Karsten Thormaehlen

To live to 100 is not common. German photographer and artist Karsten Thormaehlen is known for his portraits of centenarians. Since 15 years he has been searching with his camera for the secrets of long and happy life. His interest led to the creation of a beautiful portrait series that became an award-winning exhibition «Happy at 100». His close-ups of the «oldest of old» reveal wisdom, courage, confidence, joy and personality.

Karsten Thormaehlen has presented his portrait series of centenarians in over 50 exhibitions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Japan as well as published illustrated books.

Some of the photography on this website is from the exhibition PIONEERS OF THE FUTURE, a series about happy aging in Sardinia, created in collaboration with the University of Zurich in 2013.


Photography on this website by © Karsten Thormaehlen:

Face to Face – 10,000 Years of Life, AD/PD Congress Center Vienna, 2017
Sardinians, Villagrande-Strisaili, Sardinia, 2013
Brothers Vitalio (87), Antonio (94) and Adolfo (90) at Bar Melis, Perdasdefogu, Sardinia, 2013
2,000-year-old olive tree, Luogosanto, Sardinia, 2013
Widows leaving mass, Ottana, Sardinia, 2013
Loom, Museo della Cultura Pastorale, Fonni, Sardinia, 2013
Tonino (86), under a c. 4,000-year-old olive tree, Luogosanto, Sardinia, 2013
Gaspare (102), Orotelli, Sardinia, 2013
Totoni (100), church San Nicola of Ottana, Sardinia, 2013
Fisher houses, Bosa, Sardinia, 2013