Isolation Art
It’s a dreary Saturday afternoon, and I feel lonely. The rain is persistent, with large drops stirring up the swimming pool below, making it look like a stormy sea. Living in a tropical country, I know this rain will pass soon. I decided to pick up my camera and create this, Isolation Art. Malaysia is currently under a movement control order (MCO) until February 4th, 2021 with only essential outings allowed.
Isolation Journal
In this journal entry, I’ve included black and white photographs taken from my apartment in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia, on a particularly bleak day. The series aims to capture the feeling of being locked in. The gloomy weather certainly doesn’t lift my spirits. With the physical barriers around me resembling prison bars, I find myself wondering: When will I be free to move about again? February the 4th perhaps. The imagery shows my neighbour’s properties shut tight, their drapes drawn. Maybe they, too, feel down today. I hope to feel better tomorrow.
Art Practice
Managed isolation has pushed me to be creative. I’ve had to shift my art practice back into the studio, rather than roaming the streets capturing people going about their lives. Travel outside Malaysia has been nonexistent throughout 2020, which is disappointing, as exploring and documenting new countries was something I greatly enjoyed. How long will this pause last? No one knows. The shift has been valuable, though. I’ve slowed my process and spent more time with my subjects, who, like me, aren’t going anywhere.
A selection of artworks I created in the studio during lockdown can be found here.
