Art has always been a vehicle used by those to express themselves. Various mediums can be used to achieve this, such as painting, woodwork, graphite sketching, and even photography. Silent Shout by Eva Charkiewicz is a perfect example of this.

Eva Charkiewicz is a Polish-born, UK-based photographer specialising in “art photography”. Her work is often dreamy and subversive, with eye-catching imagery that is up to interpretation. She says that her adventure with photography began after the death of her father. This major event led to her becoming depressed, almost to a fatal degree. All the maladaptive emotions that she experienced during that period are ones that she tries to show in her photographs. This is evident with Silent Shout.

In Silent Shout, we see a female figure hugging her legs with her face pressed against her knees. Above her, the figure’s face with a wide-open mouth, trapped in a squinted-eye scream. The shouting face is hazy, almost lost against the general noise of the photograph. But she is striking against her solemn counterpart, providing a contrast that is hard to ignore. Despite the photograph’s lack of bright, eye-catching colours, Eva’s fantastic use of contrast and light still catches the attention of the viewer. The horizontal streaks contribute to the almost-ethereal feeling of the photograph. Nothing looks haphazard or out of place; if anything, the streaks and the indistinctness of the shouting face lend to the atmosphere created by the photograph, one that feels disorienting and overwhelming.

This photograph can be interpreted in several different ways, which is the beauty of this kind of artwork. Depending on the viewer, a different conclusion can be drawn. To me, this piece accurately represents how depression can look for someone. Despite a sad, quiet, and morose exterior, someone could be deeply struggling on the inside without the ability to express themselves truthfully. Without the proper tools or skills to navigate through depression, it can be very hard for someone to handle their symptoms. This can even lead to frustration or rage, with one feeling as if though no one cares or understands what they are going through.

Experiencing depression can be an isolating fight. Eva claims that she stopped talking to or meeting with people while she was struggling through the worst of her symptoms. Perhaps this is how she felt; begging to be heard and helped, yet not being able to say anything. A plea which remains internal, echoing off the walls of her mind.

Silent Shout is a prime example of how many artists tap into their own mental health experiences when making their artwork. This can be very cathartic for those who have struggled or are currently struggling. For Eva, who uses art photography to navigate through her emotions, she surely must find comfort in making her pieces, as well as in the fact that those who are also struggling with depression might find comfort in them too.

Feature + Body Image Credit: Silent Shout by Eva Charkiewicz via The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/gallery/2018/jan/17/eight-artworks-inspired-mental-health-problems-pictures)