When lockdown 2.0 started, Yarra Valley photographer Suzanne Phoenix’s options to photograph in the real world were completely removed as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to gut the arts industry.
Earlier in the year Ms Phoenix created the ‘Isolation Portraits’ series with over 120 people in 60 households and released two self published magazines and was planning to continue this work. But she needed to make a new plan.
“I was missing my friends and the artists in my creative circles after months of not being able to document a live music gig or a queer performance,” she said. “So, I devised a way to make art and connect with other artists during lockdown with a series called ‘Artists in Residence’.”
Over three weeks Ms Phoenix created virtual photographic portraits with 52 Victorian artists over Zoom calls while catching up and chatting about how they were coping. These artists include The Huxleys – Will and Garrett, Kylie Auldist and Karen from Finance.
Ms Phoenix made photos in a way she would never have entertained before the coronavirus pandemic.
But that wasn’t the end of the collaborative process. Each artist was then given their virtual portrait via email and they responded to it in their own way. These included digital modification, illustrations, sewing onto the photo or printing it and even rolling it in a ball, planting it and watering it for a week and then drying it with a hairdryer and photographing the final artwork.
“I can’t tell you how special each moment was of receiving the final artwork back, and I was continually astounded at the different ways artists responded to their portrait,” Ms Phoenix said.
Artists also shared in words their experience as an artist during lockdown, how it has impacted their arts practice, livelihood, mental health and identity.
Many artists revealed this was the first time they had been invited to be creative and to collaborate in months.
Hini Hinara who spent over 15 hours hand stitching her tattoos in her virtual photograph said, “I cant thank you enough for this project, it has been such a lifesaver to my sanity.”
Richard Chadwick/Karen from Finance drag artist said, ”Putting on the drag that I do have with me feels surreal – as if I’m painting on a smile to cover up the despair. Some days are dark. Really dark. But most days are fine. I’m ok – sometimes I just feel like I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Kylie Auldist said, “corona virus deleted my live music career. Hopefully temporarily but there is no surety of that. Resilience to change and acceptance of our situation, this is my newest skill set.”
Author Angela Savage who lost both her parents during the pandemic said, ”I find comfort in small, achievable tasks that allow me to bring moments of happiness in bleak times: I knit and crochet birds and beasts inspired by my reading.”
The virtual portraits, the finished artwork and the artists words are all included in a self-publication to be released on 29 October as part of The Kindness Pandemic’s ‘Festival of Strong’ – a month long online event promoting mental health and celebrating kindness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event will include 10 artists from rock stars, singers and aspiring DJ’s, to body positive warriors, photographers and couture designers and they will be sharing how they stayed strong, or didn’t, through lockdown.
50 per cent of the profit from the self-publication sales will be donated to National Association for the Visual Arts.
For more information, visit: https://www.suzannephoenix.com.au
