Presents as Normal
Marina is intellectually disabled, she has severe learning difficulties and no concept of time. She seems to understand more than she is able to communicate but there is no real way of knowing. Many years of medical experts and testing have failed to produce a diagnosis,she is what is known as a S.W.A.N child (syndrome without a name).
I have taken portraits of Marina along the years on several occasions.I have always felt that somehow strangely, part of me was in that same mysterious place as she was…. aloof from the world and yet totally wired to it; that was my connection to her and photographing her is my way of being with her and getting to know her better….