UN POIDS EN MOINS ? [A WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS ?]

This project brings to light Anaïs’ journey through the preparation, procedure and recovery of a bariatric surgery.

I started photographing Anaïs Virgilio, artist and anti-grossophobic activist, at the beginning of 2021. The initial aim was to document the everyday life of a fat person in her private life and her relationship with the outside world, with the injunctions and difficulties that implies.

Then, in 2022, Anaïs had to undergo bariatric surgery to alleviate her physical and mental suffering due to her weight. The collaboration thus took a new turn, focusing on Anaïs’ journey through the preparation, procedure and recovery of the surgery.

The project is composed of photographs I took before the operation, snapshots Anais took in hospital, hospital records, post-surgery portraits and texts in the form of questions that Anais asked herself throughout the process.

This work aims to give insights on bariatric surgery and to shed light on a too often stigmatised subject.