Trondheim kunstmuseum

All the women in Mette Tronvoll’s photo series Age. Women 25-90 are depicted in the same manner; they are portrayed against a deep red background, directly facing the photographer. The series consists of 22 portraits in all; 11 portraits of young women in the artist’s social circles in New York, where she stayed in the 1990’s, and 11 portraits of elderly women from Orkdal, where she comes from. The difference between the two groups becomes clear through the matter-of-fact setup. It is emphasised further by the great age gap, and it is also reflected in the title of the series.

As viewers we encounter the model’s gaze, as if though the person posing in front of the camera looks back at us from another time. Who is she? What are her thoughts and her experiences? What were these persons’ starting points and opportunities in life? The photographs open up for reflection on different generations as well as on geographical and social affiliation.

Eight of the portraits are part of Trondheim kunstmuseum’s collection. The portraits Marit Stene and Eline Mugaas were bought with funds from Gallerifondet in connection with Mette Tronvoll’s exhibition in Trondhjems Kunstforening in 1994, where the photographs were presented for the very first time. The remaining six were purchased in 2010, among them Minori Shirionishi.