Ageism, a deeply ingrained prejudice against individuals based on their age, is not just a societal issue but a profound personal injustice that strips people of their dignity and worth. Often seen as an end to most life experiences, the general perception is such that it often excludes the elderly from being seen as wise and valuable.
What society doesn’t realize is that understanding ageism isn’t just about policy changes; it’s about fostering empathy and respect for every stage of life, ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, is valued and treated with the dignity they deserve.
The Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle exhibit at the Chinatown International District’s Wing Luke Museum addresses ageism from a different lens, encouraging audiences to challenge their perception of what old age looks like, and reflect on the beauty and comfort that aging offers.
“It is a very unique exhibit, because we often don’t think of aging in a positive light, and that it’s more than just a number,” Maliha Masood, a Pakistani American writer, said. Masood was the principal artist behind the texts of the exhibit, which also features the story of her immigrant parents. “The way I wrote it, is that I am speaking to the readers and thinking about their own lives and what they would look like.”
Through oral histories and real-life accounts of older Asian Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander American (ANHPIA) individuals, the exhibit attempts to provide a glimpse of their contributions in society and within their own families. Not only does it highlight the reverence for elders, but also addresses the challenges and evolving nature of these bonds in contemporary society. It asks the question: What is an elder?
According to Masood, the exhibit addresses four main themes based on aging, through a series of text panels, quotes, and pictures. She explained that the exhibit uses the metaphor of ‘duality of aging being both internal and external’, and asks the audience to view these histories to then reflect on their own experiences.
Through vivid imagery, the exhibit helps viewers understand a positive spin of aging that involves resilience, courage and love, she said.
Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle, through conversations with elders, paints an image of the role that they play in the community, invoking questions of what these roles mean to them, and perhaps, a glimmer of hope.
86-year-old Masood Rubb’s role has been defined as ‘caretaker,’ and recounted his experience of looking after his terminally-ill wife, who is in the final stages of Parkinson’s. The text panel informs readers of the reality of Rubb’s relationship with his wife and how it changed when she was diagnosed. He speaks of his refusal to depend on hospice services, and how he has come to terms with his role.
“There is a strength in caregiving, and by reading about my father’s and other stories, we want the audience to feel inspired, and view these stories with respect,” Masood said. “Because what’s important is the way you live your life, irrespective of what age you are.”
Noe Noe Wong Wilson, whose role has been defined as ‘The Culture Bearer,’ spoke of her belief in ‘kapu aloha,’ which stands for sacred mountain, becoming a cultural birthright of women, and is preserved by the elderly females of the Native Hawaiian community.
“We have to be pono with each other. Pono means to be at your best behavior at all times. Before you speak to somebody, be sure that your words and your tne is made with aloha-with love, with honor,” her quote on the text panel reads.
Masood mentioned that the planning involved in creating the exhibit was long drawn, with a goal to tell oral histories that challenged conventional understandings of aging.
By breaking the exhibit into sections, she said they attempted to depict the lives of ANHPIA elders as their younger selves, what their needs and expectations from society were, and finally end with an appeal to audiences to imagine a future for society of how elders should be living their lives, and that aging is universal.
“We weighed in on the layout and structure of the exhibit, especially the theme, because people mostly speak of the challenges of being old and that’s not what we wanted to do,” said Marguerite Ro, the state director of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). “Our focus was to depict the strong side of ageism, and what it means to grow old.”
Ro also said that the exhibit has something for everyone to relate to, whether its accounts of war or household memoirs, it’s about building a safe space where elders are respected, and what they bring to our communities.
“I never really thought of it… what it means to be old, and how we should be thinking of our elders,” Masood said. “Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle brings them out of the shadows and in front.”
Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle opened for public viewing in April 2024, and will run until Februrary 2025.
