It is in March 2020 that I begin this post. I write this having resided in my European home for a considerable period of time without leaving. I am not including the time I have spent stepping out onto my terrace. This sudden country-wide quarantine has felt quite a lot like a film, the dystopian kind. And while I enjoy watching such films, I have never pondered too much about my course of action should the world start to resemble them.
Still, I chose not to panic.
During this time, I have chosen to respond to such a tide by focusing inward. I realized I had been neglecting aspects of myself that needed care. And to prevent myself from falling under the weather, thus affecting those I live with, I chose to commit to acts of self-care. I figured that caring for myself would mean caring for the ones in my proximity. I would be caring for the ones whom I found myself growing closer to as the quarantine continued. I understood that I was fortunate to have safe mental and physical company to act as my family as I began this, and for that I felt so grateful. I was thankful that I would be able to express myself artistically despite the quarantine.
In the imagery I share with you today, I am wearing a silky pink button up and black leather leggings. Above, I sport a black French-baret which I pair with a black choker. Below, I have on my brown ankle-boots. I wanted this look to be polarizing as my hallway appears with its shadows casted primarily to the left.
I wanted to capture a bright image accompanied by shadows. It is a rather mundane photo, but I think it speaks to this period in time. I have a hand placed on the illuminated glass as I gaze through. What appears to be on the other side? Is it bright or full of darkness?
I believe is for us to decide our perceptions. That it is up to us, to the best of our mental and emotional capabilities, to decide how we respond to sudden tides hurled in our direction.
I could tell you that beyond the glass is the unknown, this abstract ideal that reflects our psyche. I could also inform you that beyond the glass is the interior patio, with laundry hanging across. That directly opposite from my gaze is the window of my neighbor, a neighbor who I may never properly meet some day, let alone say “hi” to. That perhaps some form of isolation was already present, one that stands unaffected by the quarantine.
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Special thanks to my photographer @michaelkamel55
