i'm lucky to have been raised by some strong, rebellious, and vital elders who have instilled an adoration for the stories carried in wrinkles of age. storylines aims to capture these stories, and invite a generational return to the respect of our elders (and, hopefully, a spark to become a story-rich elder yourself)

sarla pt 1. // dear 92 year old sarla, i'm sure your soft, careful love, your endurance and your strength have enriched your beauty. you were born in the rich and colourful napoor, india. after your arranged marriage down a caste into poverty, your husband ventured to japan to build a business and a life for you both. your granddaughter told me 'it was unusual to marry down a caste, perhaps she saw something in him -an entrepreneurial spark' i know there were heartbreaking events you endured during those years of separation, until finally, in the 1950s you crossed continents to join your husband and the first indian restaurants he had catalysed in kobe, japan

sarla pt. 2 // you helped him there, in your indian restaurants in japan, and you both rose from poverty. you told me that both indian culture and japanese culture felt like home now. sadly, your husband died of alzheimer's. you cared for him for 8 years before he died. i awed at your strength, and to this you told me 'this is life, i had to face it. what we can do , we can do'. i asked you what advice you would give to your young granddaughter, you said 'don't worry, whatever comes your way, you have to face the situation and go slowly'.

Trevor Beare : what i know about you