The famous show business phrase, ‘The show must go on’, is proving to be true amid the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa.
The Turbine Art Fair, which is a non-profit organisation, has launched a community Covid-19 photographic project, Stilled Life, which will speak to the urgent and extensive nature of how Covid-19 has affected the world. The public has the opportunity to tell their stories through photos and three residents from the northern suburbs have already shared their Stilled Life photos.
Rosebank resident Liese Homan called her photo Holy Mass Action.
“I thought the project was such a beautiful way for the community to share what was important to them while in lockdown, things that nobody else can see. A way of sharing a slice of your life with others,” she said. Her photo was inspired by her not being able to go to church. “We were not allowed to go to church in the traditional way, our parish priests at Rosebank Catholic Church, Father Thabo and Father Theo, asked us to share our photographs [photos of the church-goers] with them so that they could attach them to the pews and feel as if we were celebrating Holy Mass with them.
“In return, they shared their photographs with me of our parishioners ‘participating’ in the Mass, albeit virtually. This act made me feel a part of a beautiful community even though we are all apart.”
Having to change your ways and adapt, Homan said the transition from traditional to digital was quite easy. “Our virtual Mass each week is so beautiful and meaningful, you can watch it and participate in the quiet of your home with no distractions. Of course nothing compares to face to face but it is not forever, don’t lose sight of that.”
Sandton resident Lisa Bowes entered an intimate photo between father and daughter titled ‘Remains of the day’ of which she said was a magic moment to capture.
“One of those small magic moments, silently shared by father and daughter,” she said. “Caught between worlds with the day dying and the night being born; all overlaid with the stillness of Covid-19 times. Not a car on the road and not a soul in sight. It reminded me of the passage by Admiral Richard E Byrd in the Antarctic in 1934. ‘The day was dying the night was being born, but with great peace.'”
On a lighter note, another Sandtonite, Nechama Brodie captured ‘Laundry Day’ depicting colourful masks by celebrated designer Marianne Fassler.
The top 100 photos will be selected by a panel of judges and exhibited online at the RMB Turbine Art Fair later this year. The selected photos will then go on to be auctioned by Strauss and Co, with all proceeds going to the Business and Arts South Africa Artists Relief Fund
Entries opened on the 4th of June and close at midnight on 19 July. To enter the competition click here
