Into Oblivion - Maja Daniels

Maja Daniels is a Swedish independent photographer based in London. As she writes on her website (http://www.majadaniels.com/), having studied journalism, photography and sociology her work mostly focuses on social documentary and portraiture with an emphasis on human relations in a contemporary environment.


By using sociology as a frame of research and approach in her work, she find it a great combination when trying to focus on the interaction between man and society and to combine photography and the written word.

Her most recent project “Into Oblivion” is an example of her long-term personal work, combining photography and sociology. She has worked three years on a project investigating the politics of ageing in the western world with a focus on care policies for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Since the project’s completion she has been invited by schools, independent organizations and galleries to talk about the series and her approach to photography.
Maja has also been assistant to photographer Peter Lindbergh from 2006 to 2009 and is currently represented by Picturetank in Paris.

I'm very glad to introduce her and her work to 591.

/// Tiberio Fanti





Into Oblivion

Alzheimer’s disease in a “Protected Unit”, an observation of care within the geriatric institution. “The issue is how society, including human services, has chosen to define older people as post-adults living in institutions.” Bruce C. Blaney

The proportion of elderly people in western society is constantly rising. Some 24 million people worldwide suffer from dementia and about half of these people have Alzheimer's disease. The growing number of senior citizens in developed countries is raising the incidence of this disease and scientists predict that the number will have tripled by 2050.
While investigating the politics of ageing in modern society, I have for three years photographed life within a geriatric hospital in the northwest of France.
The "Protected Unit" is home to residents with Alzheimer’s disease. Due to tendencies to wander about and potentially get lost, they are confined within the ward. A locked door separates the occupants from the rest of the hospital.

[...]

I would like for this series to encourage the current development of new forms of care in specialised institutions. With serious investment and with some attention given to this topic, it is possible to make life better for the affected elders and their relatives.


Maja Daniels

[Read here the complete essay from Maja]





All Photographs, (C) Maja Daniels

Comments

touching great pictures.
k*
Rhonda Boocock said…
powerful, moving images!
V said…
:)
elfrun kroehl said…
haunting ...
Simon Johansson said…
great series! a bit sad.
Sehraeuber said…
impressed !!!