(Photo, Kaylie Pykkonen)
To shift the media portrayal from a focus on extreme thinness in eating disorder representation, I made the photographs conceptual and aesthetic driven. My goal is to expand the typical perception of what an eating disorder looks like so more people feel comfortable seeking help. While the emotional trauma can’t be simplified and I don’t claim autonomy in another’s lived experience, I believe this approach amplifies voice, not body weight.
I was inspired to do this project as my youngest sister was hospitalized for anorexia in seventh grade. Since, I’ve witnessed friends and peers struggle with their eating habits. If it weren’t for my sister, I wouldn’t be aware of the disorder’s dark depth. Learning the true motives behind her disordered behavior invoked an empathetic desire to help her and others as best I could.
My sister has been in recovery for nearly seven years now and aims to eventually create an alternative treatment program focused on wellness and wilderness.
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