This series of portraits was created during visits to social care facilities, where I encountered people with intellectual disabilities. I did not come to observe diagnoses or limitations, but to meet the individual. What struck me most was their joy of life – the sincerity of their emotions, spontaneous smiles, and an unfiltered delight in the present moment.
In contrast to everyday life, often burdened by pressure, performance, and inner unrest, these encounters felt disarming. The portraits do not depict “otherness,” but humanity itself – open, unguarded, and free of pretense.
This body of work is therefore not merely a charitable gesture or a documentary record. It is an invitation to reflect. To reconsider how we define normality, happiness, and mental well-being. And ultimately, to face a question that remains deliberately unresolved:
Who, then, is truly sane – and who is insane?
Who, then, is truly sane – and who is insane?
