As I get older, I forget that everyone around me is ageing alongside me. I was jolted into
reality by my ageing father and the life changing event that occurred to him. When Youth and
I Lived Together examines the impact of my father’s forced retirement on him but also on
my family.
In early 2001, my father was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and was prescribed strong
medication to manage the pain of the condition. Over the past 19 years, the medication’s
effectiveness has subsided to the point that my father was not able to work any longer due
to excruciating pain.
To document this change, I capture the evidence of changes within the household and the
gaps that ageing presents to my entire family. These gaps come in the form of the negative
financial impact of the loss of income as well as the emotional effects of losing the ability to
work. I am also looking at the domestic space which is now filled with someone who was
absent while working most of his life. This added figure, who is now constant within the
domestic setting changes the balance significantly. While this is an autobiographical story
about my family, ageing and the feeling of being isolated when becoming retired is a
universal reality that touches everyone.
Bio:
My name is Joanna Penney and I am young photographer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I have just recently graduated from the BA(Hons.) Photography with video Degree and Ulster University, Belfast. My work responds to the direct experiences that I have encountered in both my person relationships, and the environment I live in. I approach each subject with a sensitivity that shows respect to what I am photographing. My practice revolves mainly around documentary themes however, I have had experience working on more conceptually based projects.
