Invisibility is a common realisation for ageing women. The experience of growing older is shaped by meanings ascribed to ageing which are articulated and visually represented within culture. Hence, the aging body is, in fact, culturally constructed by the spectator’s youthful gaze, resulting in ‘hypervisibility and invisibility’. So, the aging female body is perceived stereotypically and in general terms as impoverished through a lack of youth. The internalization of the external youth gaze merges with the deeply rooted male gaze.

Disappearing Act switches the ideas of invisibility for notions of disappearance, intimating a sense of agency. I try to envisage a sense of discarding - a shedding of an imposed existence for something transformative - new identities are explored within age and performativity.