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These photographs absolutely nail depression
09.22.2015
12:23 pm
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Two years ago, San Diego photographer Edward Honaker was diagnosed with depression—that moment represented the beginning of an arduous process of coming to grips with his own self-defeating tendencies and representing them in his art.

As he told the Huffington Post, “All I knew is that I became bad at the things I used to be good at, and I didn’t know why. ... Your mind is who you are, and when it doesn’t work properly, it’s scary.” His self-portraits have a pleasingly elemental quality reminiscent of Magritte or Escher, but with more piercing emotional content than either of those masters.

“It’s kind of hard to feel any kind of emotion when you’re depressed, and I think good art can definitely move people,” he said. Honaker, who also has done fashion work for Doc Martens and Armani Exchange, hopes that his project will goad viewers into accepting those who struggle with mental illness. “When I was making the portfolio, I asked myself if I was the kind of person whom others would feel comfortable coming to if they were going through a difficult time and needed someone to talk to,” said Honaker. “Truthfully, at the time, I don’t think I was. I’ve still got quite a ways to go, but the whole experience made me a lot more patient and empathetic towards others.”

Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.
 

 

 
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Posted by Martin Schneider
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09.22.2015
12:23 pm
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