Tristan Cai researched on depression and visited The Finnish Association for Mental Health, spending time with its patients. These collected stories were then retold through the development of a composite character that Tristan named Toivo, making him the "muse" of this photographic project and building a whole fictional story of how they met. "Toivo was walking frantically at the Central Railway Station, taking long strides, his neck perched out and his hair in a huge mess. Tristan knew he had to photograph this man, he had so much character that could not be missed. He approached and said "hi" and in response Toivo shoved his hand into his face signalling his disinterest in entertaining a conversation with him. After a while they managed to have a conversation and Toivo was flattered by Tristan's interest in wanting to photograph him. They soon began meeting every couple of weeks." Toivo, the combinations of several different mental patients encountered by Tristan.
ITS Contest Application year: 2011
Application area: Photo
Collection shortlisted as a Finalist
