ANIMA is a long-term photography project that explores mental health through powerful visual narratives, using symbolism, portraiture, and the figure of the contemporary superhero. The project investigates the invisible struggles carried by individuals who often appear strong, functional, and resilient to the outside world, while privately fighting complex psychological battles.
ANIMA is about truth.
It is about removing the mask and showing what is underneath — without shame, without judgment.
Through this project, I want to create a space where vulnerability is seen as strength, and where people feel less alone in their struggles.
ANIMA challenges the way we perceive mental illness.
Mental illness does not always look like suffering.It can look like perfection, success, beauty, strength. This project exists to make the invisible visible —to give a face, a body, and a voice to those who struggle in silence. You should not be alone in this.
Why superheroes
Because behind every hero, there is a wound.
If you look closely at their stories, each of them is shaped by trauma, loss, or struggle. Their strength does not come from perfection — it comes from what they have survived.
Many people, especially younger generations, connect deeply with superheroes. They admire their power, their resilience, their ability to keep going. Through ANIMA, I use these familiar figures to reveal something more human: even heroes are not invincible.
Nobody is perfect.
The real heroes are the ones who ask for help.
The ones who face their pain.
The ones who keep going, even when the battle is invisible.
Do not be afraid to ask for help.
Do not be ashamed to suffer.
ANIMA exists to break the stigma around mental health — to show that vulnerability is not weakness, but courage.
ANIMA — Series
Chapter i - wonder woman
The first image of ANIMA portrays a woman as Wonder Woman, not as a fantasy hero, but as a symbol of resilience. She represents a real person living with binge eating disorder, a mental illness that is often invisible, misunderstood, and judged. I chose Wonder Woman because binge eating is not a weakness—it is a daily battle. This woman fights silently, every day, against her own mind. The strength she shows is internal, not physical. The superhero image contrasts with the hidden struggle, highlighting how people suffering from eating disorders often appear “strong” or “fine” on the outside while carrying deep pain inside. This image challenges stereotypes around mental illness: You don’t need to look fragile to be suffering You can be powerful and still be struggling You can be a hero while fighting your own shadow ANIMA begins here: with a woman who does not ask to be saved, but to be seen.
Chapter 2 - the flash
In this image, the Flash—symbol of speed and control—is immobilized by anxiety. Surrounded by a fast-moving crowd, he stands still, unable to act. The world blurs past him, emphasizing his internal state: a mind racing with thoughts, fears, and urgency, while the body remains paralyzed.
Anxiety creates a profound sense of detachment from reality. Although physically present, he appears disconnected from his surroundings, as if existing in a different time and space. This dissonance reflects the lived experience of anxiety, where perception becomes distorted and reality feels distant and unreachable.
By reversing his power, the work exposes the paradox of anxiety: movement without progress, urgency without action. The image invites the viewer to experience the tension between external expectations and internal overwhelm, challenging the perception of strength and control.
Support ANIMA
ANIMA is an independent project dedicated to raising awareness about mental health through art.
Your support helps bring this project to life — from production to exhibition, and to reaching communities who need it most.
How You Can Help
Your contribution supports:
• Creation of new images in the series
• Studio and production costs
• Exhibitions and public outreach
• Mental health awareness initiatives
Why It Matters
Mental health struggles are often invisible.
By supporting ANIMA, you are helping to give a voice and a visual presence to those who feel unseen.
Make an Impact Today
meet the Team
Valentina Socci
Creator
alessia alciati
Italian PR