Today is the World Mental Health Day 2017
On this day, we are launching
ONE MODEL ONE STORY
20 models were in our studio the past 12 months
20 stories they share
Here’s our first one
It’s special
Because he’s the model of this photo
Also the photographer of our photoshoot project for all models
Name: Pere Ibañez
Country of Origin: Spain
Time in Beijing: Since 2008
Occupation: Artist
WHERE SUN AND MOON MEET
Just because you tell me to try to be happy, it does not mean I can be. Though, there is always light, and hope will come at some point.
On my low days, I am dysfunctional, but on my high days, I am immensely creative and productive. I do not talk well, so I work with photos and express myself through them.
There is the happiness and the sadness, and we are all looking for that balance. Yet, a perfect balance is impossible to achieve for anyone, not just bipolar sufferers.
I have known depression and mania for as long as I can remember. I also know close ones who have had such times of despair. Two years ago, I had a bad moment – I could not believe I was going to work in the state that I was, but surprisingly I was more functional than I imagined.
There is a way to carry on.
Treatment helps. I advised one of my students to find a doctor to help her. We need to find ways to help ourselves.
When depressive episodes hit, allow it to hit and embrace it. Feel those emotions, the despair, and the hopelessness.
The lows do not stay low forever, and neither do the highs. When I am in the dark, there is a portal of light from somewhere
Be patient with the healing process. When leaves whirl in the wind, and all seems confusing, give yourself time. The leaves will settle.
When confined in despair, air can seep through somehow.
Wind is not always a bad thing. Through the corners of shut windows, cracks allow the wind to blow through, a fresh rejuvenation… and when the air passes through, it takes with it, the sorrow, the tears, and the melancholy.
We need to try to be realistic. I remind myself to be realistic, that it will all pass. We stay in the moment and let it be.
Hope always comes at some point.
Our partner from Bearapy (Founder: Enoch Li) is the magic behind the “One Model One Story” series. She conducted interviews with the models and created heart-touching narratives from their words and experiences. You can follow Bearapy by scanning the QR code below.
The long-term initiative of CandleX – Moodlab Bipolar Disorder Awareness Project intends to improve the knowledge about mental health and shed away the prejudices about the sufferers. For the past few months, we have been publishing the photos of our models, who agreed to participate and open up about their experiences. However, the model photoshoots and their results are not the only part of the project. Besides the series of the photos, we also wish to bring more intimacy and personality to the campaign by sharing the stories of our brave participants.
Thus, starting from this month (Oct 2017), we are entering the phase of “One Model One Story” series. This way we will help the people affected become more confident about their situation and raise the awareness of such issues in the society. Only by talking openly and loudly about the feelings that many of our friends and family members experience, we will be able to become a supportive society.
We begin the “ONE MODEL ONE STORY” series with a photo and story of not only the participant in the Moodlab Project, but one of the key partners – the talented photographer behind all the photos of the project – Pere Ibañez. The title of his photo is “From Dusk to Dawn”.
The fundraiser continues for the photo-album, which will be the most important result of the Moodlab Project. This book will features all the photos and stories of the models, in addition to key facts about the bipolar disorder. We appreciate any amount of money given. You can donate by scanning the QR code below.
Chinese QR
English QR
