My Identity has always been something I have been unsure of. In. fact, trying to find where I fit in the world has caused me so much strife you could say I obsess over it constantly. My whole life I have had an unstable sense of identity that has left me broken, confused, and scared for my place in the world. How can I accomplish anything if I don’t even know myself? What started with me shooting self-portraits using medium format film and scratching and burning myself off the negatives eventually became so much more. It manifested in prints depicting the hollow shell of a man stuck in the terrible cycle of mental illness and drug abuse. Then came the book acting as a diary that I allow others to read and a video hinting at the effects of drug abuse and addiction. I hope to depict a powerful image that speaks to the importance of mental health care including for those who are addicts. This was an extremely difficult piece to work on as it required me to delve into the darkest parts of my life. However, if even one person upon viewing it decides to fight for mental health advocacy or even if it makes someone feel a little less alone, then it will have been worth it.
