A magical creature in the middle of the forest... Get to know Kitty from “Wonderland”

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - People have different ways of dealing with painful situations in their lives. However, when British photographer Christy Mitchell lost her mother to cancer in 2008, she resorted to creating a fantasy world she called “Wonderland,” a series of 74 images inspired by characters from the books her mother read to her as a child.

For Mitchell, working on the Wonderland project was a way to give herself a sense of control. “When you lose someone specifically to cancer, one of the saddest parts is there's nothing you can do,” she said. "You're so out of control, you can't make the medication work, and you can't change the doctor's opinions," she said.

I think what made me addicted to this series was that I could control it. "I was able to decide the locations of the scenes, and what happens to the characters."

The series centers around Kitty, a magical creature who lives in the forest. Kitty reflects the sense of loss and small periods of happiness that Mitchell experienced while grieving for her mother.

During good days, the portrait photographer covers Kitty in butterflies as she nestles in a bed of lavender flowers. During the weeks when the photographer feels deeply depressed by the inevitable encounter with death, her character might be tied to a sinking ship with hands looking upward longingly.

Mitchell filmed this series on a small budget. Her husband helped her set up the sets, while one of her friends stood in front of the camera.

Another friend took care of her hair and makeup during photo shoots. The photos were taken in the woods behind Mitchell's house.

The photographer took advantage of the changing nature of the forest, such as blossoming roses and trees with falling leaves, to embody different concepts. Mitchell did not create "Wonderland" for the purpose of artistic expression, but rather to help people cope and process their own feelings, in addition to starting a dialogue on the topic of grief.

For the British photographer, the most satisfying aspect of her series was seeing how it helped different people deal with their pain. When the photographer published a book containing her series, people shared their experiences with her during book signing events.

One time, a family gave her a collection of photographs she had taken of her own “wonderland,” to help their children cope with the loss of their grandmother. During this special series, these children were able to deal with their pain in the same way that Mitchell did.