The "1 in 6 by 2030" project – Demographic statistics turned into a series of vibrant photographic stories
My quest to find a 72-year-old model for an international photo project, initiated by renowned photojournalists Ed Kashi, Ilvi Njiokiktjien, and Sara Terry.
The 1st chapter: “72”
The current average global life expectancy is 72 years, which is why it is the first topic of the 7-year photo project "1 in 6 by 2030" initiated by renowned photographers Ed Kashi, Ilvy Njiokiktjien, and Sara Terry. The goal of this project is to give a human face to demographic statistics on population ageing. This has been the guiding principle of documentary photographers since Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, who documented the Great Depression in the United States in the 1930s.
By 2030, one in six people worldwide will be 60 years or older (1in6by2030.com). This is a milestone in human development and implies many changes in societal structures. Not only will people live longer, but they will also stay in the workforce longer and hopefully age differently, in a healthier way.
The invitation from my mentor Ed Kashi to participate in the 1in6by2030 project honoured me greatly, so I planned to photograph the photo series during a spring vacation in Portugal in 2023.
How do I find a 72-year old model in Portugal?
A farmer I met in the Val de Côa, famous for its prehistoric rock paintings, spoke French but was too young for the project at 70 years.
Nunho, the French-speaking bartender of the tiny village of Aldeia do Souto in the Sierra d'Estrella, Portugal's highest mountain range, helped me find my luck at last. For several days, we regularly visited his bar and drank Vinho Verde. However, several 72-year-old ladies in the village were not willing to give me deeper insights into their lives.
Then I met Mario Torres, my model at the bar! I was following him closely for three days, until I captured enough motifs for the present photo series ; his pain threshold and tolerance towards me had long been exceeded.
From Portuguese imperialism to the paradise of the centenarians.
The animation shows the population structure of Portugal in the year 2023. It is clearly visible that with a total population of approximately 10 million, the majority of Portuguese people are between 40 and 70 years old. The mushroom-shaped figure, typical of industrialized nations, indicates an ageing society with too few offspring. Currently, about a quarter (22%) of the population is over 65 years old, a situation that puts a heavy burden on retirement plans. With less than 80,000 births in 2021, the demographic situation is difficult as there is a lack of future tax-paying workforce, reinforced by the ongoing emigration of the younger population from the mainland.
As an imperialist nation with a powerful naval force that colonized many overseas territories, Portugal has experienced a labour force exodus since the 15th century until the industrialization and invention of steamships. The population has been concentrated along the coast since.
The complicated political situation of the 20th century with the Salazar dictatorship continued this trend; many grandchildren of emigrants nowadays live in Northern Europe or America and often do not intend to return, except for vacations.
However, life in Portugal seems good and long, as shown by the high number of 3000 centenarians: Portugal is the third oldest country in Europe and the fifth oldest in the world.
Chapter 2: Work or retire?
The doctor and psychotherapist Dr. Rüdiger Dahlke is my second model for the photo project. I visited his healing center TamanGa in the Austrian region of Styria in October 2023 and followed him and a group of wine-fasting hikers for several days. The photo essay on the question "Continuing to work or retiring" will be published in April 2024 by "1in6by2030".
On a personal note: Dear friends and supporters
How many photographers do you know who have published a photo book this year? My trilingual photo book "Quand même / Anyway / Trotzdem" is a historical work, as it showcases vivid, beautiful, and even funny portraits from the first lockdown in 2020, when people were trapped in fear and drama.
My brave publisher Isabelle Dugied has invested in a print run of 400 copies with high-quality printing. However, these books are not yet being distributed, neither in France nor in Germany, or in English speaking countries, as it is her first book. This means that we go from book-store to book-store and personally offer it there; a real, laborious challenge that doesn't generate any profits. Until now about 100 books have sold which means there are plenty left.
You can support us: Give away my book for Christmas! You can order it online at Café Lehmitz in Germany at my editor’s in France. From next year on they’ll be sold at Setanta books, London.
Thanks to Lorna from Toulouse for proof-reading!!