Work title: In Search of Nijinsky

Latest and ongoing project (started November 2023)

In Search of Nijinsky is a deeply personal exploration of the inner world of Vaslav Nijinsky, one of the most influential dancers of the 20th century. While initially captivated by his unparalleled ability to communicate emotion and narrative through movement, my focus has shifted to a lesser-told chapter of his life: his mental struggles following a diagnosis of schizophrenia and his time in psychiatric clinics

Inspired by Nijinsky’s diaries, written just before his institutionalisation in Kreuzlingen, the work translates his fragmented and sincere stream of consciousness into visual form. The diaries mirror the qualities of his dance: uninhibited, raw, and profoundly expressive. Yet, unlike his performances, which exist only in fleeting descriptions and a few static photographs, this project reimagines his inner life in new and symbolic ways.

In Search of Nijinsky is not a documentary account of his life—those stories have already been told. Instead, it captures the loneliness and turbulence that came after the applause faded. The photographs invite reflection: Did Nijinsky still dream of dancing? Did his thoughts echo the rhythm and movement of his past? Through images, I aim to evoke what words cannot, bridging the gap between his physical artistry and his inner torment. At its core, this work seeks to connect with viewers on a human level. It offers a moment of silence amidst the chaos—a chance to surrender to the complexities of mental health and confront what is often left unspoken.

I booked my trip to Switzerland to work on my project, In Search of Nijinsky. I will leave on April 14, which is both exciting and terrifying. I’m a little afraid of disappointing myself—that there will be nothing there I can use or that I won’t know how to use it. But at the same time, it’s always better than regretting I didn’t go. I decided not to prepare too much because too much preparation brings me pressure and stress.

I booked only the first two nights in a hotel in Kreuzlingen. I’ll fly to Zurich and take the train from there.

(Dairy fragment, trip to Switzerland, April 2025)