Senior Love Triangle: Art Exhibition Redefines Ageing with Intimate Photography
A powerful new exhibition in the Netherlands is challenging deeply ingrained societal misconceptions about ageing through a collection of intimate and thought-provoking photographic works. Grey! Art on Ageing at the Museum van Bommel van Dam presents a compelling narrative that proves there is no single, monolithic way to grow older, showcasing everything from romantic embraces among octogenarians to the vulnerable final stages of life.
Confronting Taboos Through Visual Storytelling
The exhibition features works from multiple artists who dare to explore themes often considered taboo when associated with older adults. Isadora Kosofsky's acclaimed series Senior Love Triangle takes centre stage, documenting the complex romantic relationships between three octogenarians in Los Angeles. Her intimate photographs capture moments ranging from tender kisses on sofas to the practical realities of administering insulin, presenting a nuanced portrait that challenges assumptions about sexuality and connection in later life.
Kosofsky reflects on her decade-long documentation, noting that she began photographing Jeanie, Will, and Adina "from a place of curiosity" and was "so drawn to them." She observes that "the desire to be seen and understood is everlasting" regardless of age, and her work continues to resonate with global audiences who find themselves both drawn to and occasionally uncomfortable with these intimate portrayals.
Personal Narratives and Intergenerational Reflections
Other artists contribute equally powerful perspectives. Marrie Bot's series Geliefden – Timeless Love explores her personal journey of understanding her parents' sexuality, from childhood confusion about noises from their attic bedroom to the shocking moment her 75-year-old father revealed his surgical scar. Her work directly questions why society finds the thought of older people and sex so shocking and embarrassing.
Diana Blok contributes a poignant image of her mother undressing, capturing a moment that reminds viewers "we are all but another pearl in the veins of time." Meanwhile, Margriet Luyten spent three years photographing her mother's final stage of life at age 95, using gum bichromate printing techniques to impart a softness and fragility to these penetrating images that bring observers close to the soul and the reality of death.
Authenticity and Vulnerability in Ageing Portrayals
The exhibition also features works that celebrate authenticity over perfection. Lique Schoot's series 42 Days with Hair Towels and self-portraits from 2005 demonstrate her commitment to showing herself "in an honest way" without filters or pretence. She finds freedom in being able to capture vulnerable moments that "no one else could capture," living her real life through art.
Wen Hui's film still from Dance with Third Grandma adds another dimension, exploring how bodily memories and experiences can transform both society and history. This multidisciplinary approach reinforces the exhibition's central thesis that ageing encompasses countless narratives rather than a single prescribed path.
A Lasting Cultural Impact
Running from 24 January until 14 June 2026, this exhibition arrives at a crucial cultural moment when conversations about ageing are becoming increasingly important in many societies. By presenting older adults as complex, sexual, romantic beings with enduring desires for connection, the artists collectively dismantle stereotypes that have limited how society views later life stages.
The photographs challenge viewers to reconsider their own assumptions and discomforts, creating space for more honest conversations about what it means to grow older. As Kosofsky eloquently states, "There is no one way to age. Ageing is not a monolith" – a message that resonates powerfully throughout this groundbreaking collection of visual narratives.
