Artist Statement
The photographs in this series develop a perspective on the state of life during the coronavirus pandemic. Since COVID-19 became a global health crisis, individuals and the systems they rely on have become fragmented and changes in lifestyle have been necessary to cope with the changes forced by the pandemic. For me, the pandemic has had its impact on my life as a graduating high school senior. It formed a sense of waiting and uncertainty, which provoked several guiding questions for this series. As the world progresses, does a sense of harmony and unity exist? Is it observed in nature? Is it dictated by personal will?
Each photograph is created with the same photographic technique of collaging segments of distinct photos. This collaging is done specifically with simple rectangular crops of photographs, without the use of any precise masking, outlining the shape of objects and figures. The simplicity of the crop, contrasted with the extent of visual unity achieved, intends to showcase the naturality of the images as they are within the whole collage. The subjects chosen to be covered in the series intends to develop a perspective on the state of life, covering a variety of subjects denoting the average course of life. For instance, recreational activities at local trails, doors of suburban homes, and plexiglass shields at grocery checkouts.
This project was created in the midst of the crisis and persisted through transitions in local regulations, even ones which significantly alter interaction to more closely resemble life before the pandemic. While this project was provoked on a large part by a reaction towards isolation and uncertainty during quarantine orders, the nature of unity that the project comments on is widely applicable in upcoming post-quarantine life and further on in other sectors.
