Distance in the Time of Corona: Portraits of Self Isolation
“Asleep or awake indoors or out of doors in the bath or bed no escape. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres in your skull.” Orwell's words strongly resonate with the very nature of the struggle humanity and society as a whole is facing today with self isolation.
Bringing the global pandemic down to the individual level. Portraits tell a story of feeling and expression. Helping to create a human connection that we all crave living in these times of Corona Virus.
Following a journey of the pandemic. The aim and focus of this project is to explore through portraiture with photographic narrative how the mask is muting our voices and expression whilst capturing a glimpse into peoples self isolation in the following regions : Cape Town South Africa, Sardinia Italy and in my home town of London UK.
Presenting a more humanistic view point. As opposed to the statistical and ever more confusing political views of the virus we are exposed to from governments and mass media. Each person was asked to write 2 words or symbols with hashtag on their mask. To describe how they felt at the start of lockdown and how they feel during and living with Corona Virus and its restrictions. They were also asked to place something near their chair that they have connected to during their self isolation. All portraits were shot with social distancing.
Using the same protocol for each image, the person is photographed from front, with a neutral gaze and seated.The photographer stands on the threshold of the subjects front door. Creating a frame within a frame. The series is based on aesthetics of typology. It balances between the coldness of this systematic protocol and the warm tones that bathe each image, As well as between the sanitary distance that's has become a new social norm and a unique view into the intimacy of the home.
I started shooting the project in Cape Town at the start of the worldwide implementation of lockdown in the spring months of April and May 2020. With 9 residents of Doric court. When South Africa was undergoing one of the worlds strictest lockdowns. I then continued to shoot 7 more portraits in the province of Alghero in Sardinia into the easing of lock down in summer during August 2020. As Italy was exiting a heavily restricted state. With the second wave of the virus in London and the UK. Together with the return of self isolation and lockdown, and the impositions of stricter restrictions. I continued to shoot a further 6 portraits during late November and December of 2020.
Each of the 22 portrait tells a story of feelings and connections to the notion “There is more that unites us than sets us apart". Through statements displayed and voiced on each mask.
The hope for this project and series, is to convey to humanity the importance that the virus is not selective. And we are all equally in need of connection and inclusion without discrimination, prejudice and borders.
"Distance in the time of Corona: Portraits of Self Isolation" shows that everyone is concerned by the current crisis of the pandemic, but that it does not affect everyone in the same way.
Exhibited at the following:
World Photography Day 2021: Corona Edtion (Juried Selection) - featuring "Distance in The Time of Corona: Portraits of Self Isolation" series - (group exhibition) The Norwegian National Museum of Photography - Preus Museum - Norway
"Portraits without Borders" 2021 - 2022 featuring "Distance in The Time of Corona: Portraits of Self Isolation" series (group exhibition) - Fotogalerie Friedrichshain Gallery-Berlin
#fear #calm
Tamara aged 25 apartment 209.Is a Tailor and Seamstress from Siberia Russia who lives in Cape Town. Due to border closures because of the pandemic, she is delayed in returning home to Russia. She has connected to her ukulele, her sewing machine and treasure chest where she keeps her designs.
#unsure#challenging
Lynelle aged 32 apartment 003, is a theatre actor and from Cape Town, who has found it very hard in lockdown not being able to find work and to practice her craft. She has connected to her meditation practice, yoga and to a self help book to help her during self isolation.
#uncertain #isolated
Colin aged 50 apartment 703. Is an Insurance broker for a firm in Cape Town, who has to work from home due to lock down, and is adjusting to isolation and feeling uncertain of the future with the virus. He has connected to the dream of riding his beloved scooter again.
#relief #suspended
Ozlem aged 42 apartment 301. A Turkish citizen, who has been stuck in Cape Town due to lock down. A mathematician waiting till the international borders open up again, so she can relocate with her family back to Turkey. She has connected to her abacus during self isolation.
#shocked (symbol emoji) #worried (symbol emoji)
Daniela age 50 apartment 303 is a project manager for advertising company in Cape Town, who is working remotely from home. And is finding it confusing in isolation. She has connected to making and growing yeast to be made into a special type of italian bread during self isolation.
#ohmygosh #resilience
Gordon aged 72 apartment 707. A Professor in social work and mental health at university in Cape Town. Who has to teach online due to the lock down and his respiratory issues. He has reconnected to his cat and cultivating new plants, during self isolation.
#confusa (confused) #resilente (resilient)
Carlotta aged 28 apartment 007, is an italian chef, who has been made redundant from the Cape Town restaurant she worked at due to the lock down. And has connected to her food processor making new culinary delights during self isolation.
#vibrantnightingale #transformative Amanda aged 37 apartment 45 is a Lyrico Spinto Soprano from Cape Town, and has been very active using her time in isolation to rehearse for her rescheduled show in Milan after the lockdown restrictions are eased. She has also connected to reading italian classics during self isolation.
#fear(arabic)#doingnewthings (arabic) #help Mai aged 27 is a an Egyptian citizen, devout muslim and a mother of a new born. Who has been stuck in Cape Town visiting her husband. Due to international border closures, she has been delayed in returning home to Cairo. She has connected to praying outside in the court yard of the apartment block during self isolation with her prayer mat.
#incredulo (incredible) #speranza (hope)
Eduardo aged 29 is a pizza chef who has been self isolating in a derelict apartment he purchased in the town of Argenteria before the lock down. And is struggling with refurbishing it. He has connected to the art of making olive oil soap and plays his play station to connect with friends online during self isolation.
#paura (fear) #ansia (anxiety)
Angela is aged 52 photographed 8th August 2020 is a house wife from the town of Alghero in Sardinia Italy. She has been struggling a great deal with the fear of catching the virus and also the anxiety of the unknown. During self isolation and lockdown. She has connected to crosswords, reading literature on her kindle and playing cards as well as growing and curing tomatoes to be sun-dried.
#confuso (confused) #consapevole (aware)
Fabrizio aged 27 photographed 18th August 2020 is a musician from the province of Alghero Sardinia in Italy. Due to lock down he has lost a lot of concert work and has been using the time of self isolation to compose and make new music with his beloved guitar.
#paura (fear)#grata (pleasant)
Michela aged 24 is a bar maid who lives with her mother in Alghero province of the italian island of Sardinia. Lockdown has been very lonely for as she is not able to see her friends in person. During her self isolation she has connected to her Nintendo switch which she uses to play with her friends
online during self isolation.
#disorientato (disoriented) #nuovaarmonia (new balance)
Jacopo aged 26 is an Actor who, due to the lock down is self isolating in his parents holiday home in the historical centre of the province of Alghero in
Sardinia Italy. Because of lock down and the standstill of the film industry, he has not been able to work for over 6 months. During self isolation he has connected to his guitar, and reading italian philosophy and classics, as well as taking up learning wood work and carpentry to refurbish his parents
apartment.
#disorientata (for disoriented) #resilente (resilience)
Guilia is aged 29 and lives with her father in the province of Alghero on the italian island of Sardinia. She works as the manager of her fathers electronic shop. Due to the lockdown her work has come to a stand still. During her self isolation, she has connected to her ukulele and started to learn new songs with it.
#spaesato (disorientated) #ottimisata (optimistic)
Ricardo aged 27 is a photography student who has relocated to camping and living in the cave during summer called Grotta dei Vasi Rotti for 2 months now because of the lockdown and his fear of infecting his elderly parents and to experience the outdoors. In self isolation he has connected to reading Indian spiritual and socialist philosophy, as well as documenting his experience with his camera.
#nonchalant (care free) #awoke
Salim aged 17 Photographed 23rd November 2020 lives in the south east London suburb of South Norwood. He is a sixth form college student who has found it very hard during lock down,
because of closures at his college due to the constant out breaks of Corona virus. And has had to attend classes online. He has connected to learning in self isolation.
#love #fear
Alexandra aged 42. Is an Artist who has found it very hard during lock down due to difficulty finding work as an Artist, due to the lock down restrictions. She has
connected to her fine art painting in self isolation.
#health #connecting
Laville aged 34 lives in the north west London suburb of Southgate. He is a jazz and soul singer and musician who has found lockdown very productive
and has focused on his healthy eating and connecting with his friends and family in a more spiritual sense. And has also connected very much to his meditation, writing new music and keeping fit in self isolation.
#shocked #drained
Nadia aged 31 lives in the south east London borough of Bermondsey. She is mental health advocate and marketing agent who has found lockdown very tiring and exhausting as she has had to be on call more than usual She has connected to reading and her bird cage which is a symbolisation of been trapped in a cage waiting for it to be open, so she can once again taste freedom after her self isolation.
#transform #healingMarco aged 50 lives in the south west London borough of Wandsworth. He is a music producer and composer who has found it very calm and
transformative in lockdown. And has been intensely meditating, healing himself as well as
producing a new album. And has also connected very much to his amazing collection of Tibetan prayer bowls in self isolation.
