About

18×18 is an immersive photo exhibition experience, diving into the world of 18, 18 year old girls from all over Auckland. Take a step into the world of young women on the brink of adulthood. Prepare to have your eyes opened, your assumptions challenged and your hearts pulled…

18×18 is brought to you by YWCA. For over 140 years, we have supported the well-being, development and achievement of young women in New Zealand. With strong feminist roots, our work nurtures young women’s leadership and amplifies their real experiences and voices.

YWCA challenge the gender status quo with everything we do. Our work nurtures young women’s leadership and amplifies their experiences and voices. We are advocates for change so the real world matches young women’s expectations. For every girl. For every woman. For every right.

The team behind it

Verity Johnson – Journalist and Project Curator

Verity Johnson is an established journalist, media personality and the YWCA Auckland Youth Ambassador. She is a weekly columnist for The Dominion Post and is a regular panellist on shows including RNZ’s The Panel and The AM show where she is a powerful voice for Kiwi young women.

“18×18 has been simultaneously mind blowing, humbling and hilarious. Even when these girls are going through heavy times, they are facing everything with strength and hilarity. It’s inspirational but also really hits home with the issues they’re facing.”

Verity

Susanne Axelsson – YWCA Communications Director and Lead Photographer

Susanne Axelsson is the YWCA Auckland’s Communications Director and freelance photographer with a rich international portfolio from all over the world. Since moving to New Zealand from Sweden five years ago, she has delivered award-winning digital projects for NZ organisations, as well as started a podcast and launched successful marketing campaigns.

“It’s always a privilege to be let into people’s homes, so being able to see the young women at home in their rooms was such a unique, intimate insight into their world and captured the honest reality of their stories.”

Susanne

Coco Janssen – Supporting Photographer

18-year-old Coco Jansen is a rising photography star, currently majoring in Communications at AUT University. She brings an 18-year old’s perspective to the creative eye of the project.

“I loved shooting the project because as an 18 year old myself, it’s amazing to be part of a project that really means something to me. We’re such a crazy, diverse generation so it’s awesome to be able to put that in print!”

Coco