Adriana Helena
a photographic journey into the past and the future.
Adriana Helena are the names I received when I was baptised as an infant. These given names represent the hopes and fears that have framed my biography.
Adriana. The dark one.
I make dark work, in both the literal and metaphorical sense. My anxiety disorder, that I carry with me already from an early age, plays an eminent role in my life and work. Every image I create, captures aspects of my daily reality.
Helena. The light one.
A straw. As long as there is one to grasp at, nothing is lost. However dark it gets, there always seems to be a shimmering light somewhere. So, there is always hope and optimism to be found in my work, even when it is concealed in harsh images.
Every photograph is meticulously composed, presenting scenes, feelings and thoughts that kept and keep me trapped. My head is full of strong images that need a way out. Also, music plays an important role, as songs have guided me through times when I felt completely isolated from the world. Now, they inspire and intensify my work. Every photograph is carefully contemplated - location, model and mood - and shaped into a ‘real’ image. It enables me to tell a story of a past and a future. With every click, the camera brings me closer to reality. And through this project I can invite others into my world, trying to break the taboo on psychiatric disorders. There is an urge to break the isolation, to break the silence.
The project is the lifeline of my artwork, and a profound inspiration for other projects and ideas.
