Haley responds to rise in lockdown eating disorders with self-portrait project

A highly personal series of self-portraits from a University of Northampton lecturer will go on public display this week.

Weight Bearing is Haley Morris-Cafiero’s response an increase in requests for help with disordered eating during lockdown. The photographic series sees Haley draw on her own experience of living with an undiagnosed eating disorder, many years ago.

The Senior Photography Lecturer’s self-portraits use imagery and symbols from everyday situations to communicate the invisible feelings that she associates with trying to control her body’s size and conform to the wider society and the media’s expectations of what a woman should look like.

Listen to Haley talk about Weight Bearing on BBC 3 Counties Radio (interview starts at 3h 43m).

Haley said: “I am very proud of the images that were created for this series as they show a different view of disordered eating than what we see in the media. I hope that by showing this unique perspective, those who may be suffering from similar feelings can see themselves in the images and can seek help if needed.”

Weight Bearing opens to the public on Thursday 23 September, at Departure Lounge, Luton. It will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 1pm to 6pm, until Saturday 30 October. See the Departure Lounge website for further details.