I tell the story of Martha, who did not leave the house for three years after the birth of her first child.
Home isolation, which many of us have experienced as an externally imposed necessity this year, was a vital strategy for Martha.
For three years I photographed with analog medium format - staged self-portraits, still lifes and scenes.
While working on this project, I made my own (brief) experiences with postpartum depression after the birth of my child. The dispute became all the more urgent. Because: PPD is a topic that is avoided. Both in the arts and in social discourses. There is stigma and silence on it. And it's time to change that!
It is time to speak honestly about female bodies, the beginning of motherhood, the depths, fears and various forms of motherly love that come with it. And about the exaggerated expectations our society has of the perfect happy newborn mother.
I am happy to tear down some walls of silence for this, as I consider it important to create an inspiring dialogue between the photographs, the texts, the viewer and readers about this disease, which effects up to 15% of all mothers and also around 4% of all fathers. Maybe more.
Martha's story ended positively after a good three years. Step by step.
The photographic series will comprise around 50 analogue color photographs and will be supplemented by an essay. Two other well-known authors are also asked to contribute.
The texts will be published in German and English in order to make the book accessible to a wider audience.