"I have AIDS"

American photographer Adrian Chesser (Adrain Chesser) decided to capture the reaction of people close to him to the message that he has AIDS. Adrian called his series "I have something to tell you." A slightly cruel project, but the author explained his action by the fact that he wanted to see a sincere manifestation of the love of his loved ones.

From childhood, he got it well for not being like everyone else. In his biography, Adrian writes: “I was born on May 19, 1965 in Okeechobee, Florida to a Pentecostal family, studied the Bible, learned to play the piano and organ. I spoke in different languages. They cast the devil out of me. I taught myself how to cast out demons. But I'm gay and left home at the first opportunity."

(Total 12 photos)

Photo (C) Adrain Chesser

1. A friend gave me a camera and I fell in love with the light and image. Another friend gave me an enlarger and darkroom supplies. In the closet under the stairwell, I taught myself how to print photographs.

2. I have worked in restaurants as a dishwasher, busboy, waiter… Photography was my highest spiritual practice.

3. When I was thirty, photography literally saved my life. Through the ritualistic nature of the image making, I have healed deep emotional childhood wounds that manifest as physical illness in my body.

4. Now in my soul, free from the demons of childhood, there is room for many moments of transcendence.

5. About the project: “When I thought about revealing the truth about my illness to my friends, I panicked. I have amazing friends, they are all very loving and understanding.

6. I realized that my strong negative emotions are actually based in my childhood fear of rejection. Gay, who grew up in a small town in a very religious family, constantly experiencing the fear of exposure, does not trust people.

7. It occurred to me that if I ritualize the act of confession, it could destroy childhood fears that still affect me as an adult.

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