Penny Klepuszewska is a Leeds based photographer I have been shown, I’ve been working with older people in Burmantofts as part of Live projects. Working with East Street Arts. Working with older people does bring to light some of the issues around isolation and loneliness. Although the women I work with all seem to talk about children and grandchildren I do get the feel that they all love coming to the art class as part of their social lives. One woman did mention how it got her out the house and speaking with others. As my Grandparents are getting older I hate the thought of them feel isolated or alone, and I hope they don’t feel like this. However it is a massive problem. This photographer looks at the issue head on. She takes these amazing and eye catching photographs in a series called Living Arrangements. Klepuszewska found all the people and houses photographed by advertising in post offices, asking if older people felt isolated and alone; she was amazed by the amount of people that came forward.
Living Arrangements investigates our ageing population. One in ten elderly people spend their lives utterly alone, often with deteriorating health and no family support to hand; the home usually a place of of shelter, becomes an island of isolation. (http://www.artlyst.com/events/penny-klepuszewska-living-arrangements-end-part-the-art-house)
Loren Turton 