ITS 06: A Pandemic Through Picture Windows
Hello from Mutti. We hope that you are safe and well at home. As we move slowly but surely through this pandemic, we are heartened by the efforts of all essential workers and inspired by the artists who are keeping us sane and hopeful for better times ahead.
We hope to feature a few activations during this time from our small space. The first is from our very own Thomas Bollmann whose series photo Picture Window features his close-knit community in east Toronto.
More about this project from the photographer:
“My street is known for the openness of its neighbours. It is a mish-mash of artists, young families and treasured seniors. Checking in on each other, sharing fresh baked goods and opening doors for art crawls and porch hops are commonplace. The loss of opportunities to gather, share and connect leaves a hole akin to the eerie quietness of city streets.
In response to this sudden loss of contact, I created a neighbourhood project, Picture Window. I connect through distance by taking portraits of households on our street as they maintain self-imposed isolation. Glass picture windows arrived in the 17th century to provide homeowners with light and an opportunity to enjoy the view outside. This project reverses the picture window's original intention with the viewer becoming the view and the light coming from within.”
Mutti: How has your photography business changed since the lockdown?
TB: Mainly that there isn't any. The paid gigs have been cancelled or postponed. The creative (non-paying) side of the business is actually doing pretty good, as is the case in situations like these where resources are scarce.
Mutti: Is that why you started this project?
TB: No, I mean it helped to have the extra time, but it started because I felt there was a need to do something productive with these unusual circumstances. When downturns happen it forces you to change the approach to topics in a way you might not have thought about prior. Sometimes it opens an opportunity to produce and execute a project that would have been really difficult under normal circumstances. For instance, this might be the first and only time that everyone on my street is home at the same time day after day after day.
Mutti: Speaking of, how did you coordinate and practice safe social distancing for the project?
TB: My neighbourhood is connected on social media so we put out a call to see if anyone would be interested in participating. Over thirty neighbours came through which is amazing since I thought there would only be a few. In terms of shooting, everyone stayed inside their homes and I shot from the sidewalk while directing on cell phone. Most of the time once I was done, we chatted a while longer. I think everyone, myself included, welcomed the distraction and something to look forward to at the end of the day.
Mutti: What did you learn about your neighbours while doing these portraits?
TB: Well, first that there are a lot more children and cats on my street than I thought there were. And also, that there are more artists here than I previously thought. It's a pretty vibrant neighbourhood.
Mutti: How else are you filling your time these days?
TB: My second practice is working with clay so as long as I have a supply, I will continue to do that.
Mutti: What's your go-to comfort food in the pandemic?
TB: Anything my wife creates. I also really love making bread.
Mutti: You actually have flour?
TB: For now! Truthfully, I don't really do anything thinking about scarcity so I'll just use what I have and when it runs out it runs out. Maybe I’ll have to find a new cook related hobby soon.
Mutti: What do you think the future of photography will look like?
TB: I think there is going to be a lot of remote shooting. The teams will be smaller and client/ADs might be connected via feed. I think shoots will be stripped down to the bare minimum of people necessary on-site. I kind of have a feeling that smaller crews and overhead might actually be a good thing. I think we were at a point of overproduction to please the client with money being spent on extraneous things. Of course, I could be wrong and we could all just go back to the way things were.
Mutti: What's the one positive thing you see coming out of the pandemic?
TB: I got to know my neighbours better and that's something that will probably keep going after all of this is over.
Mutti: When things open back up what's one thing you would like to do?
TB: After going through this with my wife, maybe a second honeymoon - if she's still with me when this is done! But seriously, I would love to see my family in Berlin when it's OK to travel again. Until then, stay home and stay safe everyone.
