Damaged

"Damaged" constitutes an ongoing series that delves into Betrayal Trauma and its manifestation as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Betrayal trauma PTSD frequently unfolds within domestic spheres. This symbolic representation unearths the raw emotional undercurrents shared by those who have suffered betrayal at the hands of loved ones. Because I am also a survivor, I began this project by making Polaroid self-portraits, then harnessed a fusion of controlled chemical reactions utilizing everyday household items and cleaning agents on their emulsion. The alchemical interaction, manual manipulation, and judicious application of red light and heat collectively give rise to each image. Emotional healing is not linear, various triggers may change one's journey at any time, so the images do not have a calendrical sequence. Much akin to how our internal psychological landscapes respond to external stimuli, the fragile Polaroid emulsion mirrors human skin and the human psyche, measuring the repercussions of human interaction. The resulting imagery is an allegorical visual embodiment of the deleterious effect of manipulation inflicted by individuals we have reposed utmost trust.