The publication All in this together emerged out my frustration about the impossibility of captivating someone else'sinner world with a camera.
The work is both an artistic and anthropological investigation. Together with four protagonists, – Sara, Elias, Flora, and Manuela – I questioned how social isolation affected their mental health and their non-substance addictions during the pandemic. Through sessions involving conversations, drawings, and portraits, I
The publication All in this together emerged out my frustration about the impossibility of captivating someone else'sinner world with a camera.
The work is both an artistic and anthropological investigation. Together with four protagonists, – Sara, Elias, Flora, and Manuela – I questioned how social isolation affected their mental health and their non-substance addictions during the pandemic. Through sessions involving conversations, drawings, and portraits, I tried to render something invisible – a sense of loneliness, confusion, or even harmony and calm – visible on camera.
As the meetings unfolded, their dialogical character took center stage, and another question emerged: How can such an artistic project overlap with a therapeutic process, and where should they be kept strictly apart?
The Book
… is set to be published in June 2024 with The Eriskay Connection (Breda, NL). It holds an essay by Alexander Cabeza Trigg, and conversations with James Davies and Anna Rakoš.
What are the psychological effects of a pandemic and how do we look back on these times of social isolation?
Has it changed how we relate to others and the world around us?
How does portraying others relate to discourses around representation, especially in anthropological research? What bigger picture is revealed by looking at the state of our mental health in a capitalist society?
Edition: 750
Release: June 2024
Language: English
Photography & Interviews: Mafalda Rakoš
Editor: Dieuwertje Hehewerth
Text Contributions: Alexander Cabeza Trigg, Anna Rakoš & Marieke Descheemaecker, James Davies & Mafalda Rakoš
Assistance: Allan Taveras, Marieke Descheemaecker, Paola Lesslhumer, Lukas Meixner
Design: Carel Fransen
Specs: 170 x 230 mm, 128 pages, Wire-O, OffsetPublisher: The Eriskay Connection (NL)
In loving memory of Vivian Janss.
About Mafalda
My name is Mafalda Rakoš, I am an artist-anthropologist based in Vienna and Amsterdam.
My work operates within the intersection of art, anthropology and documentary photography. Triggered by the ethical conflict around representing others, I’ve always been interested into collaborative approaches with a strong emphasis on dialogue and mutual decision-making.
In my journalistic work for international quality media, the topic of mental health has been a reocurring topic since 2020. These assignments lead to more and more questions, which I tried to find answers for by working on this book.
Currently, I’m finalizing this publication, and so grateful about your support! 💫
☺︎ Our Fundraiser – Your Support ☺︎
The total budget for this book is 19.000€ including fees for our editors, writers, the designer, lithographer and producing a print run of 750 copies. So far, we received funding from the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture in Austria (BMKOES) and Bildrecht.
In order to offer fair fees, enable everyone working in this project to stay mentally healthy and cover the remaining gap in the budget, we are so happy about your support to make the publication come true!
You could preorder a copy of the book, a print, or insights into our favourite failures which we'll lovingly compile into a sepereate PDF. Sharing this page with persons in your surrounding is a gerat help as well.
Thank you so much in advance ❤️
Warmly,
Mafalda
Timeline
2024, April: Printing in the Netherlands
2024, June: Copenhagen Photo Festival: Solo show, Book Release (int.) → Interview with Mafalda on CPH page
2024, June: Softcover, Vienna: Book Release (AT)
2024, September: Unseen Amsterdam: Book Release (NL)
2025, March: Congress for Eating Disorders, Vienna
Sara, Elias, Flora and Manuela
I wish I had a bucket of red paint to throw onto the canvas. – Sara
On the outside I‘m doing well, I‘m in functioning mode… but inside, inside myself, it looks very different. – Manuela
I have noticed that I do not have to expect any sort of relationship or any kind of story to give me the feeling that I am allowed to feel good. – Flora
At the moment I feel I‘m a bit up in the air, putting things off. That’s why I don‘t have a plan for what I‘m doing at the moment. Where is the journey taking me, what‘s the next step in life - Elias
Nieuwste donaties
Walter
2-04-2024 19:04Knowing how committed, solid, sensible artist Mafalda is, I've no doubt this coming project will deserve every penny and much more!!
Maira
28-03-2024 17:25Yaay :)
Lenny
27-03-2024 19:44Always full support! Mafalda is curious and eager to play an active role in a society were people care for each-other.
