Like many millions of people, I love reading fiction. From the very first chapter, I find myself absorbed in the narrative, oblivious to the world around me. I transcend the words on the page, emerging as the invisible actor in this fictional existence, leaving behind any connection with my own reality. I accompany the characters on every step of their journey, shadowing their every move, mirroring their every emotion.
One day I remember having a conversation with my husband about this and he looked at me with a very puzzled expression. Quite simply he didn’t understand what I meant. He then explained that he doesn’t see any images when he reads fiction. His mind’s eye is effectively blind.
Aphantasia, or the inability to form mental images of things which aren’t present, is an intriguing condition and I wanted to explore what influence, if any, it has on photography.
In my research, I came across a photography project entitled 'Diving into the Nothingness of My Mind's Eyes' by Iranian photographer Mina Boromand. I was fascinated by the project and wanted to find out more. Here is Mina’s story.
“The spark for the project Aphantasia started after I listened to a programme on BBC Radio 4. Discovering my aphantasia in 2019, I became aware that this condition significantly influenced my learning, memory, and preference for visual images. This discovery led me to conduct research and use it as a case study for my final year degree project and dissertation. I sought to explore the lack of visual imagery in my mind through an experimental approach."
“‘Aphantasia’ is an ongoing project that continuously delves into understanding how my brain creatively functions. Dive into Nothingness of Mind’s Eye – Aphantasia is comprised of selected photographs that hold emotional significance, representing a connection between my mind and memories. I manually add new layers onto the surface of my prints as a way to bridge my mind and memories.”
The discovery of my condition made me realise why I always felt like an outsider, different from others. It shed light on my unique learning process, remembering patterns, and the reasons for my fascination with images.”
Has Mina’s discovery that she has aphantasia changed the way she makes photos?
“At first, I couldn't believe what I was hearing but eventually, it all made sense and helped piece together parts of the puzzle. I felt relief and the same time wanted to know more – why I have it and how my brain functions. "
“Photography has been a part of my life since I remember. As I grew older, it became a tool to cope with depression and anxiety, this is how I started my journey in photography. It allowed me to explore my inner self and connect with my surroundings. After discovering aphantasia, I understood why my brain adopted this approach, leading me to embrace an experimental style in my work.”