MATTEO DELRED

Edition 365

November - December 2021

"Since the coronavirus pandemic swept the world in March 2020, all of humanity have shared – and documented – an extraordinary experience. History has unfurled in front of our eyes; cracks in our systems have been magnified, and across oceans and borders, ways of thinking, acting and existing remain in flux."

British Journal of Photography, OpenSea and New Art City

RE: Confinement and Escapism

This collection is envisaged as a reply all email, or an open letter in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of the personal, economic, environmental, social and observational commentary expressed. It also relates to confinement, and reconfinement, as the most widely adopted measure used to control the virus, and our digital escapism from the isolation of the physical world. The experiences of a pandemic localised to the region of Andalusia are explored, which along with the rest of Spain, was greatly affected by and imposed some of the strongest restrictions in response to the global pandemic.

A reflection of houses on mottled metal, with remainders of the marks of glue, paper and stickers on the surface. It looks as if the houses are dissolving. Some walls are white, some are peach coloured, with terracotta roofs and window frames.

An invisible illness exposed us to a heightened sense of vigilance and cleanliness, but also being quarantined in the house for long periods of time to 'survive'.

A reflection of a window that appears like curtains.It is a black and white view of a street. You can see Spanish style residences, balconies and cars. A masked woman is walking forwards. Apart from her the streets are empty of people.

The cities lie dormant in their emptiness. They wait patiently for the return of their mask-wielding public, and the noise escaping from their home-dwelling isolation.