The Anxiety Series

Shot in India, The Anxiety Series broaches the perennial effects of anxiety, translating the volatile fears of its victims into a vibrant pictorial and thought provoking narrative. “If anxiety were tangible, what would it look like?” These pictures reveal the answer to that question, aptly dragging the viewer inside the labyrinths of the victims’ minds. GENESIS In May 2019, I wandered into the novel and dismal world of anxiety, exploring the muted obliteration it causes. I spoke to family members and close friends about the symptoms, consulted a few mental health practitioners, and explored my own encounters. My personal experience of anxiety left me withered and I was distressed to realise that there are people out there who have it much worse. This led me to flesh out unique characters for a photo series dealing with lashes of mild to clinical anxiety as well as panic attacks. ACTUALISATION After six months of research, ideation, and shooting, 'The Anxiety Series' was born. The photoshoot demanded intricate choreography, following which I created distinctive sets with carefully chosen colours, props, attires, as well as lighting. The foremost challenge was to materialise the emotions of the characters and make them tangible. This combination of photographs and text taps into the lives of eight fictional characters, each subsisting in a distinct situation and dealing with a variety of emotions. The stories delve into misadventures such as PTSD, bullying, body-shaming, and more. PURPOSE The stories are all set in different locations of Bangalore, India, a country in which mental illnesses often go unnoticed and are not entirely understood. However, these emotions are universal and so are the prejudices they incur. This series communicates the gruesome effects of anxiety to a wide audience. It is also an attempt to empathise with the victims by giving them a voice. I believe that this subject needs to be addressed now more than ever. I hope my work fosters empathy for those who are locked down and struggling to cope with reality amidst the agony of their own minds. I want them to know that they’re not alone, and this too shall be history someday.