The centenarian portrait project

In 2022 Penrhos College had six Year 11 students participate in an extraordinary art project where they were partnered with a centenarian, with the focus on creating a meaningful portrait of them.

This intergenerational initiative formed by ‘Embraced –socially driven arts’ has connected 465 centenarians with 465 teenagers from across Australia.

Our participants included Mietta Bevilaqua, Ellen King, Daisy Kinsoe, Matilda Slatter, Alisha Teguh and Claire Tran. All students were partnered with local West Australian centenarians, and for most artists it was an opportunity to meet a centenarian for the first time in their lives.

The girls had several meetings with their partner which involved interacting, interviews, storytelling and reminiscing. Beautiful relationships have evolved from this project, and the girls’ received friendships to treasure between the generations. The students had incredible conversations, and even left saying ‘it gave such a rich insight into ageing’

The idea of the project is to bridge the generational gap by starting important connections and conversations. Since the project released in 2022, we have received incredible news that Ellen King (Year 12) has been selected to feature in the National Exhibition, displayed in Canberra. Ellen’s painting was of 104-year-old, Mrs Lee.

Ellen and Mrs Lee met early last year and have since formed a fond connection. Mrs Lee has had an incredible life, moving to Perth from her original birthplace, Macao with her family.

Mrs Lee is very close with her children and they visit her often. Prior to moving into the retirement home, she was living independently (with the love and support of her family) until she turned 100. Now she is living in a local retirement home, where she enjoys daily Tai Chi, and plays Mahjong with other residents.

Ellen said that going to the retirement home and speaking with Mrs Lee made her realise that happiness is truly the key to old age. Ellen said, “The piece I created used charcoal and acrylic on wood, I incorporated hidden features including a lotus flower that represents where she is from in Macao.”

The National Exhibition is an opportunity for Australia to highlight the diversity of its older people and shared the message that we need to deepen the intergenerational connections in our own lives.

To read more on the Centenarian Portrait Project, please head to https://www.embraced.com.au/centenarian-protrait-project