Why Am I Sad is Dana Stirling‘s photographic narrative on depression. In the text accompanying the project, the photographer shares her personal story, explaining how the walls of her home ceased to be a safe space and how the profound loneliness of depression follows her everywhere. This project is an intimate journey through her experiences, exploring the fragility of mental health and her deep connection with photography as a medium for self-expression and understanding.

In the accompanying text, Dana explains how the walls of her home stopped being a refuge. Depression, with its profound solitude, followed her everywhere. «Depression affects nearly 280 million people worldwide. In Why Am I Sad, I share my story as one of them,» writes the photographer. Through her camera, Dana embarked on a process of self-analysis, using art to explore who she is and what photography means in her life.

Dana grew up in a small town, a place that, instead of offering comfort, amplified her sense of isolation. Even in the company of others, loneliness remained a constant. Her home, which should have been a sanctuary, became the stage for stress, anxiety, and sadness. Adding to this was her mother’s silent battle with clinical depression, a presence that deeply shaped Dana’s childhood. «In my youth, I perceived her sadness as a natural extension of my own,» she recounts. This interweaving of emotions shaped how she confronted her own depression as an adult.

Photography emerged as a lifeline. In the quiet of her room, Dana found an alternative language to express what words could not convey. Everyday objects became the protagonists of her images, transforming into vehicles for an internal dialogue. The camera became a tool of translation, capable of externalizing a personal and intimate language that transcends human interaction.

However, her relationship with photography is not without conflict. Even though she physically left the room that once symbolized the core of her struggles, the weight of sadness continues to follow her. Photography, which was once a means of escape, has also become a burden. «The absence of photography leaves me despondent, while the act of taking pictures reflects the pervasive cloud of sadness that looms over me,» she confesses.