Decaying with the speed of spring
James Perolls
£50.00
"Decaying with the speed of spring" by James Perolls is an enigmatic story of a woman who encounters multiple versions of herself, observing them until the experience becomes overwhelming.
The book unfolds like a cinematic fairy tale, primarily through photographs that capture the protagonist’s external world, while illustrations provide a... Read More
"Decaying with the speed of spring" by James Perolls is an enigmatic story of a woman who encounters multiple versions of herself, observing them until the experience becomes overwhelming.
The book unfolds like a cinematic fairy tale, primarily through photographs that capture the protagonist’s external world, while illustrations provide a glimpse into her inner thoughts and emotions. Through this journey, the book explores themes of self-acceptance, personal growth, and the process of letting go.
James - “The story of Decaying with the speed of spring is inspired by my experience with Depersonalisation-derealisation, a condition I lived with for seven years. During this time it felt like I was watching myself from the outside, seeing different versions of who I was. It was disorienting, surreal and left me feeling disconnected, almost like living in a dream. Depersonalisation-derealisation is a dissociative disorder where one feels detached from their body or surroundings.
The healing process was long and challenging but I learned that true growth doesn’t come from distancing ourselves from our struggles. It comes from confronting them, even when they feel overwhelming.
This book became something larger than my own story, thanks to PeiHsin, Xiaoqiao, Reina and Hirokazu who helped bring it to life. Together we explored the idea of facing different parts of ourselves, each of us bringing our own perspective to the project.
We all carry different ‘versions’ of ourselves, some we accept, others we try to bury. This book is a reminder that only by acknowledging these versions of ourselves, letting go of what no longer serves us and making space for growth can we truly move forward.
The book closes with a poem written by Xiaoqiao, presented from her character’s perspective, reflecting on both the theme and her personal journey. The title of the book, ‘Decaying with the speed of spring’ is taken from a line in this poem.
All photographs were captured on analogue film, with the majority created through composite photography, where multiple frames of the same person in the scene were taken and merged in post-production.”
Photography by James Perolls
Illustrations by PeiHsin Cho
Starring Xiaoqiao Wang
Styling by Reina Ogawa Clarke
Hair Styling by Hirokazu Endo