Published on 23 May 2016

Mental illness is a part of everyday life for over billion people. This week (May 16-22) is Mental Health Awareness Week, with “relationships” as the theme. Slowly but surely, progress is being made in the ways in which we discuss a problem that affects each and every one of us.
One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year and if you’re working in creative job, you’re 25 per cent more likely more likely to. Naturally, this translates to fashion – an industry that has associations not only with the ‘tortured artist’, but with long hours and low pay, drama and Devil Wears Prada-like bosses, skipping meals and no sleep.
Anastasia Izgagina is a fashion and portrait photographer born in 1995, Odessa Ukraine. Presenting her story "Mental Maze" as an art interpretation of this problem.

Tell us briefly about yourself and how did you discover your passion for photography.
Since i was a child i loved illustrations. Magazines and books was always cared with myself wherever i go. When i was 15 I took my mothers camera and since this moment it is the only thing i really like to do.
Tell us about your latest story “Mental Maze”. What is the concept behind it?
It's one of things which makes me really be scared of. How persons can make themselfes enter in mental labyrinth. Sometimes your thoughts getting into deeper and deeper in wrong direction. So every time you must be able to deal with your spiritual and psychological conflicts.

The problem of mental diseases is extremely substantial now. What are the main causes of depression for you? I feel myself very happy and i don't have depression anymore. But the main reason lies in the pursuit of what brings true happiness and not taking ourselves like you are.
What fascinates you about the art world today? What are your main inspirations? The opportunity to be yourself and to understand other people by way of any creative expression main inspirations are light, nature and textures.

How would you define your personal style?
Fashion and portrait photography. Selecting a range of eccentric facial features charters different, but unified by their strong in front of the camera.

Which contemporary photographers or artists do you follow? I find a lot of inspiration at Cavin Morris gallery. Hedi Slimane and Paolo Roversi ­are my favs in photography world.
What upcoming projects can we expect to see from you? Now i am working on the story called ' just want to be your housewife ' It's about a beautiful girl who is seating at home.

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