Yeah I'm Fine

Inspired by Carrie Mae Weems’ Kitchen Table Series, this collection of photographs aims to depict the silent struggle many young adults face – mental health challenges that isolate them even in a situation where they are “supposed to” feel happy or upbeat. In the place of Weems’ kitchen table, this series utilizes the gazebo, a common space of community and gathering, stands symbolic of the experience. Yet, amidst laughter and chatter, our central figure wrestles with an internal battle often unseen by the outside world. The progression of images tells the narrative of the central figure. Beginning with an engaged conversation, the series slowly transitions as the weight of mental health takes over. As she battles between wanting to be present and her internal struggle, the world around her becomes more and more of a “blur” where she is simply existing, but not fully present in the moment. The other figures, once clear and defined, blur into indistinct shapes, symbolizing the disconnection and dissociation that mental health struggles can cause in situations such as this. At the end of the series, the subject is replaced by a bouquet of flowers - once full of life, but broken and destroyed on the floor of the gazebo in the final image - a representation of the loneliness and isolation that can be felt even in spaces brimming with life. This series is a solemn reminder that even in the “best times of your life”, which is many people’s interpretation of the young adult years, one can feel profoundly alone and isolated.