LANDFALL

Landfall explores the importance of support networks and the natural environment in mental health. Having lived with multiple neurodiverse conditions since I was young, including depression and anxiety, I have learned that often my needs do not align with societal expectations. In creating portraits of individuals from my community and the places in which I seek solace and refuge, my photographic series highlights my lived experience navigating an uncertain world with invisible disabilities.

This work conveys the nuance beyond binaries, revealing that mental health is never static. Our well-being is shaped by a complex interplay of environments, living conditions, employment, and even the weather. Each person moves to their own natural rhythms, and sometimes the demands of societal structures are rigid and unyielding, superseding their personal needs. By striving to always meet the expectations of others, we are at risk of failing ourselves and becoming more vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Landfall brings attention to mental health by illustrating its continuous, cyclical presence and challenging conventional narratives about this universal human experience. My images juxtapose the fluidity of nature with the rigidity of society, visually expressing the delicate balance of self-acceptance. Through sharing my story, I transform a solitary experience into one of connection. Now more than ever, we need to promote greater awareness of mental illness during these unprecedented and chaotic times and reflect on the quiet politics of simply existing.

- Ava Margueritte