Photographer Documents Husband’s Depression In Intimate Photo Series
‘The Sea That Surrounds Us’ is a photo series by professional photographer Maureen Drennan that documents her husband’s battle with depression and her own battle to understand his mental problems.
The name of the art project is taken from a line from a love poem by Pablo Neruda called Night on the Island, a title that reflects the photographer’s decision to intersperse pictures of her husband Paul with pictures from Block Island, Rhode Island, which is where she spent time as a child. The barrenness and isolation of the island work as both a physical embodiment of the distance she felt from her husband who has been living with depression as well as a tangible manifestation of her husband’s own interior state during his mental health deterioration. They’ve since put those difficult times of fighting depression time behind them, but her beautiful photo series serves as a reminder of how fragile we are as humans, and how difficult it is to truly understand the experiences of another person, no matter how close they may seem to us.
More info: Maureen Drennan (h/t)
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Oh dear husband...you don't feel well? Let me take picture of you (by the way, half have nothing to do with him) and make it an "art" project...
Imagine this: Youre healthy, got a job, wife. Everything looks normal and perfect. But inside youre broken, you can't feel anything, you feel like there is something wrong with you but can't find out what. People start judging you that youre lazy, sad, selfish. Depression is a disease. Don't judge people by their illnes. His wife is photographer. So she used her best tools to deal with her reality. Probably she needed to do this more than he. You might like it or not but don't judge.
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It may have helped one or both of them to make this public. We can't know what's in their minds in that regard. However, being silent about depression helps nobody. Now others who have these same feelings can understand they are not alone and maybe these images will help others confused by a loved one with these feelings or make others more aware of depression. If nothing else, it is a perspective shared.
Arty nowadays there is a lot of 'art' thats show nothing and nobody asks why this is public. She had a reason to do it and right to show it like anyone else can do it here. Some of us will like it some will not. I think fact that you are questioning this is good. It made you think. And maybe you'll find answer.
I can tell that your comment was intended as a retort. However, when someone turns really personal experiences in art projects, they are inviting comments and criticisms. Secondly, you very obviously know absolutely nothing about either side of real, deep depression. I can say that because I've been there with my husband who also happened to be bipolar, addicted to heroin, who could also polish off a quart of single malt Scotch daily. I used to wonder if depression is contagious.
It wasn't about "showing off her body" or anything vain of the sort. It's about being vulnerable, exposed. Depression is a serious mental illness and the vulnerability in these photos has nothing to do with wanting to get compliments on someone's body. It's about the rawness, the reality that this couple faces every day. She is not "posing" or trying to look sexy. She is standing there while her husband brushes his teeth; a mundane activity at best. The fact that you all simply honed in on the fact that there is a topless woman in one of these pictures shows how little you respect the artist or the illness. I'm sure you have all seen naked bodies before. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't take a picture topless.
All of these comments are opinions. Opinions of what YOU see as right or wrong. YOUR way of dealing with issues will not be the same as someone else's. Just because you think this solution is odd or incorrect doesn't make it wrong or "attention-whoring"... it could've easily been an experiment for them to get their mind off things. As for her nudity, some people feel absolutely no shame with their bodies. Unfortunately for you all, you'll just have to deal with it or stop looking at the photos.
Indeed. The series of photos has nothing to do with helping her husband, or herself, deal with his depression- it has everything to do with shouting 'look at me!' and whoring for attention under false pretences. There are far more affective ways of dealing and treating depression than photographing it. She does have nice tits though, so there is that I suppose...
Indeed. Just an excuse to take a topless selfie of herself in the bathroom mirror. Didn't think of putting on a dressing gown first. And I used to be castigated for going to the bathroom in pajamas or long sleeved night dress without a dressing gown when I was in my 20's in shared flats. I always dressed after going to the bathroom in the morning and before having breakfast.
I'm pretty sure she didn't do it against his will :p I would have appreciated it if someone tried to show the world how my depression felt like when I was going through the same thing. I always felt so worthless and sad because everyone just thought I was lazy or faking it or something.
Tricky question, but I'll try to answer it. :p I think it would help a lot of people all over the world who suffers from depression if everyone out there knew more of how it feels like. I know that I was being jugded by people I didn't even know (I live in a small town, so when I fell into depression and had to leave school, I was the talk of the town, even though most of the people here didn't really know me. Also, as you can see in this comment field, a lot of people judge EVERYONE who suffers from depression). Of course, it's not like it would all go away just because people understood me. But when I was depressed and knew how people felt about it, it also triggered anxiety, which made me even more depressed, even more worthless.. So yeah, if everyone out there was a bit more understanding to what depression really is, I think it would help those who suffer from it, take some of the pressure off, make it a bit easier to breathe, a bit easier to talk about..
"The barrenness and isolation of the island works as both a physical embodiment of the distance she felt from her husband as well a tangible manifestation of her husband’s own interior state during his depression. They’ve since put this difficult time behind them, but her series serves as a reminder of how fragile we are as humans.." They do in a sense have to do with him.
I know about deep depression (which I managed to overcome after a few years)...yet...I strongly agree with Arty. She didn't document his depression...tough she might gave us her view of how might his depression feel. Who knows xD
Arty: quite strange, normally a comment like this gets you like 100 downvotes in a minute...
I suggest you read the introduction to this article before you judge anybody!
Not all depressed people look the same way. There is such a thing as smiling depression or putting a brave face on it. And somebody with facial expressions like in those photos might not be depressed but just having a bad day or concealing anger.
Load More Replies...
It is kool. Now you, they, and I am talking about this. This makes me feel less alone when I'm doer eased. How about you, Poncho? What kind of kool things have you done lately?
So people cancer other illnesses are allowed to show their battle and how they got through it but someone with depression cant? And ofcourse he wouldve been asked before posting these. Jesus. #stigma
Maaaybe she only put them on the net after they put this behind them?
Don't give the wife such a hard time! She has everyone here discussing this illness. I'm sure hubby is on board. Sometimes all you can do is watch someone spiral.
Not when she takes a selfie of herself topless though in the first photo.
Load More Replies...
What I see is intimacy, trusted longterm partnership fouled by a lack of connection (which her camera represents). He looks unhealthy, unshowered, and forcing himself to brush his teeth. This is SO much what depression feels like... For both parties. Brilliant. But right... Topless selfie. Oy.
This was nothing more than an excuse to show her world her husband is "weak" and humiliate him online while advertising her tits for her next boyfriend to find and rescue her. Wake up already.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
To me she is just an attention seeking little girl playing housey and probably contributing to her husband's depression. Any idiot can trap a man, put on a white dress and go through a wedding ceremony. So many married women have proved it.
teresa, let's do this: to me you are just an attention seeking little girl judging people you don't really know at all. trap a man? corntibuting to someone's depression? don't say such harsh and unjust things just like that. try to be more open minded and not to spread so much hate in the world. cheers.
She just proved it by taking a topless selfie. As for me you don't know me at all. I found she was a lecturer in photography but her photos aren't that good for a professional. All look very depressing. And it's true that any idiot can get married; male or female. If they were a jerk to begin with marriage makes them even more of a jerk.
Oh dear husband...you don't feel well? Let me take picture of you (by the way, half have nothing to do with him) and make it an "art" project...
Imagine this: Youre healthy, got a job, wife. Everything looks normal and perfect. But inside youre broken, you can't feel anything, you feel like there is something wrong with you but can't find out what. People start judging you that youre lazy, sad, selfish. Depression is a disease. Don't judge people by their illnes. His wife is photographer. So she used her best tools to deal with her reality. Probably she needed to do this more than he. You might like it or not but don't judge.
Load More Replies... It may have helped one or both of them to make this public. We can't know what's in their minds in that regard. However, being silent about depression helps nobody. Now others who have these same feelings can understand they are not alone and maybe these images will help others confused by a loved one with these feelings or make others more aware of depression. If nothing else, it is a perspective shared.
Arty nowadays there is a lot of 'art' thats show nothing and nobody asks why this is public. She had a reason to do it and right to show it like anyone else can do it here. Some of us will like it some will not. I think fact that you are questioning this is good. It made you think. And maybe you'll find answer.
I can tell that your comment was intended as a retort. However, when someone turns really personal experiences in art projects, they are inviting comments and criticisms. Secondly, you very obviously know absolutely nothing about either side of real, deep depression. I can say that because I've been there with my husband who also happened to be bipolar, addicted to heroin, who could also polish off a quart of single malt Scotch daily. I used to wonder if depression is contagious.
It wasn't about "showing off her body" or anything vain of the sort. It's about being vulnerable, exposed. Depression is a serious mental illness and the vulnerability in these photos has nothing to do with wanting to get compliments on someone's body. It's about the rawness, the reality that this couple faces every day. She is not "posing" or trying to look sexy. She is standing there while her husband brushes his teeth; a mundane activity at best. The fact that you all simply honed in on the fact that there is a topless woman in one of these pictures shows how little you respect the artist or the illness. I'm sure you have all seen naked bodies before. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't take a picture topless.
All of these comments are opinions. Opinions of what YOU see as right or wrong. YOUR way of dealing with issues will not be the same as someone else's. Just because you think this solution is odd or incorrect doesn't make it wrong or "attention-whoring"... it could've easily been an experiment for them to get their mind off things. As for her nudity, some people feel absolutely no shame with their bodies. Unfortunately for you all, you'll just have to deal with it or stop looking at the photos.
Indeed. The series of photos has nothing to do with helping her husband, or herself, deal with his depression- it has everything to do with shouting 'look at me!' and whoring for attention under false pretences. There are far more affective ways of dealing and treating depression than photographing it. She does have nice tits though, so there is that I suppose...
Indeed. Just an excuse to take a topless selfie of herself in the bathroom mirror. Didn't think of putting on a dressing gown first. And I used to be castigated for going to the bathroom in pajamas or long sleeved night dress without a dressing gown when I was in my 20's in shared flats. I always dressed after going to the bathroom in the morning and before having breakfast.
I'm pretty sure she didn't do it against his will :p I would have appreciated it if someone tried to show the world how my depression felt like when I was going through the same thing. I always felt so worthless and sad because everyone just thought I was lazy or faking it or something.
Tricky question, but I'll try to answer it. :p I think it would help a lot of people all over the world who suffers from depression if everyone out there knew more of how it feels like. I know that I was being jugded by people I didn't even know (I live in a small town, so when I fell into depression and had to leave school, I was the talk of the town, even though most of the people here didn't really know me. Also, as you can see in this comment field, a lot of people judge EVERYONE who suffers from depression). Of course, it's not like it would all go away just because people understood me. But when I was depressed and knew how people felt about it, it also triggered anxiety, which made me even more depressed, even more worthless.. So yeah, if everyone out there was a bit more understanding to what depression really is, I think it would help those who suffer from it, take some of the pressure off, make it a bit easier to breathe, a bit easier to talk about..
"The barrenness and isolation of the island works as both a physical embodiment of the distance she felt from her husband as well a tangible manifestation of her husband’s own interior state during his depression. They’ve since put this difficult time behind them, but her series serves as a reminder of how fragile we are as humans.." They do in a sense have to do with him.
I know about deep depression (which I managed to overcome after a few years)...yet...I strongly agree with Arty. She didn't document his depression...tough she might gave us her view of how might his depression feel. Who knows xD
Arty: quite strange, normally a comment like this gets you like 100 downvotes in a minute...
I suggest you read the introduction to this article before you judge anybody!
Not all depressed people look the same way. There is such a thing as smiling depression or putting a brave face on it. And somebody with facial expressions like in those photos might not be depressed but just having a bad day or concealing anger.
Load More Replies... It is kool. Now you, they, and I am talking about this. This makes me feel less alone when I'm doer eased. How about you, Poncho? What kind of kool things have you done lately?
So people cancer other illnesses are allowed to show their battle and how they got through it but someone with depression cant? And ofcourse he wouldve been asked before posting these. Jesus. #stigma
Maaaybe she only put them on the net after they put this behind them?
Don't give the wife such a hard time! She has everyone here discussing this illness. I'm sure hubby is on board. Sometimes all you can do is watch someone spiral.
Not when she takes a selfie of herself topless though in the first photo.
Load More Replies... What I see is intimacy, trusted longterm partnership fouled by a lack of connection (which her camera represents). He looks unhealthy, unshowered, and forcing himself to brush his teeth. This is SO much what depression feels like... For both parties. Brilliant. But right... Topless selfie. Oy.
This was nothing more than an excuse to show her world her husband is "weak" and humiliate him online while advertising her tits for her next boyfriend to find and rescue her. Wake up already.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
To me she is just an attention seeking little girl playing housey and probably contributing to her husband's depression. Any idiot can trap a man, put on a white dress and go through a wedding ceremony. So many married women have proved it.
teresa, let's do this: to me you are just an attention seeking little girl judging people you don't really know at all. trap a man? corntibuting to someone's depression? don't say such harsh and unjust things just like that. try to be more open minded and not to spread so much hate in the world. cheers.
She just proved it by taking a topless selfie. As for me you don't know me at all. I found she was a lecturer in photography but her photos aren't that good for a professional. All look very depressing. And it's true that any idiot can get married; male or female. If they were a jerk to begin with marriage makes them even more of a jerk.
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