My Creative Journey 2020
dear 2020
After the bushfires at the end of 2019, I thought, things can’t get much worse than this. Then the smog came and Australia was in the midst of unknown and frustration. February 2020 things were changing some, people were slowly picking up the pieces, and returning to a level of normalcy that hadn’t existed for months.
Then March 2020 rolled in, and the world was turned on its head.
Australia was facing the impending threat of COVID-19. People were and still are panic buying, hoarding food and toilet paper, acting as if the world were coming to an end. It has now been 4 weeks of self isolation, social distancing and minimal outings. These words are becoming common vernacular now. People are changing the way they interact with the world. There is a distinct scent of fear, stress and anxiety in the air. We cannot deny it.
But then, there is the other side of the coin. Australia is cooling down. The sliver of Summer we had, has succumbed to the advent of Autumn. Here, this means a rejuvenation of the landscape. Trees explode with greener leaves and blossoms unfurl. Birds sing and fossick in the trees, suckling nectar and playing in the breeze. The sky is lit every morning with orange and pinks and at evening descend into purples and yellow. And can we just for a second talk about the light. Golden Hour is every more magical now and the deepening evening sky is contrasted even more so by the greens and yellows of the scene around us.
The world maybe falling apart, but the earth is in renewal.
The Artist in me
This time of year is always a haven for the creative spirit. I usually spend a lot of time outdoors. Soaking in the freshness of the air, the sounds of the birds and the light that is just so magical. I love going for walks. Even in isolation, we are able to venture to the park behind our home for tranquil solace and minimal human interaction. We see the sky and the trees and it brings that much needed calmness after days indoors.
For me, my Art has been my saving grace. I funnel my anxiety into productive outcomes. Projects are good for times like this. I have been sorting the folders and folders of digital photos I have taken over the years. Reminiscing travel diaries and memories of time spent with my dear friends and family. This has led me to an idea of how I could document my time in isolation.
Photography and a visual diary
Presently, I am using photography to settle my mind. I am searching for the hidden calmness in my space and choosing to share that with you. I find that expressing my inner uneasiness by focussing on the beauty of the mundane has greatly helped me in reaching some form of calmness. Appreciating my surroundings and the items in my life that service my way of living has helped in finding the positivity over the downside of all of this.
I am fully aware of the increasing stress of unemployment and financial strain this isolation is lending to, but it is important to take joy in the simplicity of what we can control.
Presently, I am doing a photo a day diary. This is of my own creation; a challenge I set for myself, to stick with till my isolation is complete. I am posting one image daily of my surrounding life. I am not using any filters on my photos, or enhancing the image in any way. Just how I see it, is how it will be presented.
If you would like to follow along, please subscribe to my Instagram or Facebook account. Images and other subsequent material will be posted on these platforms.
looking ahead
I hope that you all are self isolating and taking measures to socially distance yourself. In these times of increased stress and anxiety, please take a moment to breath. Be present with yourself and check in regularly with your emotions. The first step to feeling better, is understanding what is making you feel uneasy.
I ask that today you reach out to someone you have not spoken to in a while. Send a message and say hello. You’ed be surprised how many people are wishing someone checked in on them. Let us be extra kind to each other, take that moment to smile if you do see a stranger. If we are kind to others, someone will be kind to us.
Please stay safe. If you can be at home, choose to. Think of each other and we can make it through together.
As always
Your Instructor,
Saabira Razac