Artist Statement

Bianca Joanna – Mindfulness Photographer, Artist & Mental Health Advocate

I have always used photography as a way to survive, first as a child growing up in chaos, then as a mother navigating postpartum depression and now as a woman living with bipolar disorder and AuAdhd. Behind the lens, I’ve found a way to stay present and to tell my story, even when I didn’t have the words. 

Hear Me Say This was born out of loss and silence and as a desire to learn more. I lost my father to addiction, my sister to suicide, and for years I feared I might lose myself too, luckily I chose a path where speaking up became a way of healing. Through self-portraiture and virtual photo sessions with others navigating mental health and neurodivergence, I’m creating a space where our truths can be seen and heard.

This work is about being present with what’s real, what sometimes can be hard to say out loud or hear like the grief, the resilience or the quiet bravery of just existing.

You will find many photos I took while I was dealing with my own pain, some self-portraits, some not. I am accredited in mindful photography and passionate about therapeutic photography techniques, I use both in my personal healing and in my work with others.

To make this project as accessible as possible, I am holding virtual photo sessions with people interested in sharing their story and using their voice through my art. Here, you’ll see the images we created together, and a window into their journeys, in their own words.

The stigma surrounding mental health often keeps us silent, it is with deep admiration that I hold space for those wanting to be apart of this.
I believe stigma thrives behind closed doors, closed minds, and closed mouths. The moment we start to speak, we open the door to understanding. With understanding, acceptance may follow.

Acceptance alone is not enough.

We must move beyond acceptance to inclusion, respect, and making space at the table for every story, even the uncomfortable ones.