The Veil of Fog by Maren Klemp

Issue 81

A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and I decided to photograph my experiences with this disease. You can find a great deal of literature on psychology, but I wanted to explore what the different states of mind actually look like. With the project, I want to explore and raise awareness of mental health. I consider the photographs to be a plunge into the darker sides of the human mind, and many of my images are visual representations of conditions associated with mental illness. The pictures tell about those who are gripped by darkness, isolation, and sadness, and about the relationships between close family members. They tell about the lack of belonging; to live in a separate world that few or no others can enter or understand. It's about the fog that comes creeping, which overpowers and paralyzes; this invisible disease. I have only used myself and my children as models, which makes this project honest and true.

Maren Klemp lives and works in Oslo, Norway.
To view more of Maren's work, please visit her website.