Diary of a Pandemic: May 29, 2020
The tenth in a weekly series of curations of images made by Magnum photographers around the world, working and living under varying degrees of social restriction
The COVID-19 outbreak has seen most Magnum photographers restricted in their movements. As part of an ongoing photographer-led initiative, Magnum photographers are sharing information, updates, and new work made in these strange and difficult times.
Here we share this week’s curation of images, selected by Cristina de Middel, alongside captions, personal notes, and reflections from Magnum photographers on how they are experiencing the unfolding situation.
See all of the entries in the Diary of a Pandemic series here. New work on the crisis will be shared daily through Magnum Photos’ Instagram feed and Instagram Stories takeovers.
Alex Majoli
Polava. Italy. April 18, 2020. Italy Slovenia Border.
“For the past 35 years the EU – a borderless zone – has ensured both freedom of residence and of movement for persons and goods across its member states. Following the outbreak early this year, on March 17, EU leaders decided that the best course of action was to stop the movement between member nations and re-establish border checks. Even little alleys and passes have been blocked by Slovenians as of March 10. As of April 27 a total of 199,414 people in Italy have contracted the virus since the outbreak began, and 26,977 of them have died – more than anywhere else in Europe and second only to the United States.”
Martin Parr
Keystoke. England. GB. 2020. During the coronavirus outbreak.
Jean Gaumy
Fecamp. Normandy. France. Classes started again on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at the Jean Mace primary school. Schoolyard.
“One of the games made up by the kids is related to coronavirus. Children are playing ‘Titanic’. This is what they call the game they’ve created inspired by the distance they must keep between one another by spreading their arms.”
Patrick Zachmann
Paris, France. May 20, 2020.
“Re-starting work at Notre-Dame Cathedral during the coronavirus crisis and after two months of closure. It started slowly on Monday, May 11, with 40 people. There are now 80. Elevation of a scaffolding to allow for a lift’s ascent.”
Antoine d’Agata
Paris. France. March 22nd, 2020. Day 5 of Paris lockdown during COVID-19 crisis.
Chien-Chi Chang
Graz. Austria. Home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Three months ago my life as I knew it—and everyone else’s—came to a screeching halt with the novel coronavirus outbreak. I have been grounded. My neighbors’ usual absent-minded window gazes disappear and their quietness and politeness turn into silence and distancing. Eerie, suspicious looks are common, as is blatant fear.
Because of travel restrictions, I have turned the camera inwards, daily photographing, and filming my apartment and my existence in confinement. It is a dark self-portrait of isolation and loneliness, fear, and frustration, punctuated with joy when I spend time with my children.”
—Excerpt from Lockdown After, a video project dissecting the interaction between lockdown and a near breakdown
Patrick Zachmann
Paris, France. May 19, 2020. Coronavirus crisis.
“Dr. Elkaim, a dentist who has restarted work as of one week ago. She has bought a special aspirator which is put close to the patient’s mouth.”
Bruce Gilden
Hudson Valley, NY. USA. 2020.
“People with masks grocery shopping during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Lua Ribeira
Bristol. England. GB. 2020. Study of flowers.
Cristina de Middel
Itacaré. Brazil. April 14, 2020. Cristina de Middel documents her day to day life during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jérôme Sessini
Vosges. France. May 10, 2020.
“Landscape after quarantine in the East region, one of the most hit by COVID-19.”
Emin Özmen
Turkey, Istanbul. May 20, 2020.
“A morgue worker stands near the coffin of ‘SA’, who died from COVID-19.”
David Hurn
Tintern. Wales. GB. April 8, 2020. Coronavirus pandemic.
