Chronicles of Supergranny

I’m a photographer and I’m mostly away from home to find something interesting. However,sometimes,when you stay where you are,there are more things to see. In this case,I initially wanted to take pictures of my grandmother for my website. She had just retired and with nothing else to do,she was depressed. So it was a good excuse.

What is your relationship with your grandmother?

My grandma was a baroness,a Jew from Central Europe,and during the World War II Nazi regime,she saved 10 people. This was followed by her ordeal with communism. After that she moved to France to raise her family. From her I learned that life is about trying to stay alive and be happy.

She’s a very special person and I have always been close to her. During my teens,when I would fight with my mother,I would always go to her. We would find excuses to do things together. She taught me how to drive and even went to the disco to find me a girlfriend.

You’ve used multiple elements in your photographs — the superhero garb,absurd situations and ageism.

The superhero reference is actually a very popular culture among Jews. Superheros were first created by Jews before World War II to give hope to soldiers and citizens. I’m very attached to the comic culture.

Absurdism is a very prominent European-Jewish culture. It is very important to us and with my work,it helps that such an element opens up different interpretations. People have called it funny and nostalgic at the same time. Another very important issue here is Alzheimer’s,a potent disease in Europe and I want to show that instead of portraying it as a sad and lonely journey,we can talk and laugh about it.

There are some images that appear digitally altered — your grandmother climbing a wall or flying above a treadmill,for instance.

They’re all real. I can’t reveal the name but there is a trainer and we call her “Wonder Woman”. Grandma trained a lot and she was 85 around that time.

What was Frederika’s reaction to such global fame and what is she doing now?

Grandma is too old now,so she is not doing anything. But yes,she loves the response because the pictures gave her an important role in the society and people would talk about it. She enjoyed being part of this story.

Did you have anything specific in mind while selecting these photographs for the India exhibition?

Not really. I just tried to tell a story. I feel that in front of these pictures,we’re all the same.

The photographs are on display till October 11 at Indian Habitat Centre,Lodi Road