In the shadow of things
by Leonie Purchas, Great Britain
Winner of the F AWARD
Second annual (2008)
Project concept
My mother has struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for many years. The intricate rules and rituals of this illness complicate everyday domestic life so much that piles of objects: clothes, boxes and bags that forms more layers of things and create an overwhelming burden. For several months I have been trying to help my mother regain control of her life and home.
Through photography I am trying to capture and express the feeling of being confronted by the mirror of myself, an experience both troubling and rewarding at the same time. The camera has been both a key and a shield, granting access to a world I thought I already knew but which continues to reveal itself.
Leonie Purchas
Author's biography
Leonie Purchas (30) after taking an honors degree in the history of art went on to work as a full-time assistant to the British photojournalist Tom Stoddard. She followed this with a diploma from the London College of Communications in 2003, gaining a distinction. Purchas has won a number of prestigious awards including of The Arts Foundation Fellowship, The Ian Parry scholarship and the Jerwood photography award and in 2006 she was an artist in resident at Fabrica, Italy. Her work has featured in a range of publications, including Portfolio magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, The Saturday Telegraph Magazine and Newsweek.
September 2008
Download press release (PDF - 19 kb) English
Download press release (PDF - 20 kb) Italiano
