"I want to disappear. Approaching the eating disorders" is a work of the Austrian photographer Mafalda Rakos. The project that is expected to see the light as a book in autumn this year is the result of a collaboration between the artist and a group of women with various diseases that relied on her to tell their stories.
The protagonists of "I want to disappear" were, in some cases, friends of the photographer before beginning this work, in others they came in contact through a group of help for people who suffer from eating disorders. All were respected their desires of visibility or anonymity within the project although, in some cases, they were willing to tell their experience with honesty and without filters.
Some photographs, taken by the protagonists themselves, show their daily struggle with everything related to food.
J. is a student living in Vienna who has suffered bulimia for 3 years. After a lengthy stay in a clinic, she considers that she has overcome the disease and now helps by sharing her optimism to other girls who struggle with eating disorders in a self-help group.
For U, this photograph is, in some way, special because it has been made in front of the bathroom and it make her think of all the moments that she has happened there and in what state she passed through that door. In addition, she believes that shows how she often feels, avoiding contact with the rest and busy with herself and the food all the time.
Photographer Mafalda Rakos understands that eating disorders are often wrapped in a layer of silence and shame, but she also knows that talking about these diseases is the only way to heal.
The photographer emphasizes the importance of understanding that it is not about being thin or not being thin. We are talking about very complicated diseases with a great background, in some cases, traumas and fortuitous events. Mafalda Rakos stresses that eating disorders are diseases of the mind and not the body so they must be treated as such and not trivialize.
More information: http://mafaldarakos.com
