Liquid specimen "Inside"

This portrait is more of a collaboration between myself and my subject and also forms part of a larger body of work. Kyra suffers from mental health issues. Mental health issues are not obvious from the outside, and either are sometimes not recognised as a 'real' illness, or there is still a lot of shame and stigma surrounding it. In my experience people who suffer from mental health issues are also highly sensitive and creative people, and this is how I perceive Kyra. This photograph illustrates the internal struggle Kyra, and many who suffer from mental illness go through on a daily basis. Kyra is on medication and is a high functioning individual, she conveyed to me that the effects of this medication can sometimes leave her feeling out of touch with feeling and creativity because it not only suppresses and controls her erratic and unstable emotions but all of her feelings. But at this stage she cannot be without them. My aim with photographing Kyra is to enter into her world, and enable her to express her deep feelings, providing her a place where she feels seen. I also see aspects of myself in her, and that which emerges when we work together has a pure, transformational and healing quality to it.