What is it like to be 13 years old in twenty first century? A time period described as the Anthropocene, an epoch that recognizes the overwhelming impact humanity has had on our planet. This is a world that includes the climate crisis, artificial intelligence and social media. The tempo of life is fast and at times, seems erratic and nonsensical. Being thirteen is an age defined by fluctuation and confusion. Thirteen emerges as a mysterious and wondrous space between childhood and adulthood. It is characterised by rapid physiological and psychological change caused by cascading hormones, risk-taking, identity exploration, and seeking out novel experiences. Is the experience of being thirteen today different from previous generations?

Photographer Carine Thevenau asks our future people about their experience in the world during a time of significant disruption and uncertainty. The photographic series and accompanying interviews provide visibility to our West Australian thirteen-year-olds. The portraits are photographed on black and white film, and hand-painted using watercolour pigments. The technique of hand-colouring photographs emerged during the late 19th century, alongside the invention of photography and the emergence of the Industrial Revolution. We are currently living through the Fourth Industrial Revolution whereby artificial intelligence is able to construct and manipulate photographic projections of ourselves. Through hand-painting the portraits Carine pauses our contemporary teenagers in time, referencing past periods of shifting tides, whilst emphasizing the consistent inevitability of transitional change.