ADAD HANNAH
Social Distancing Portraits
Social Distancing Portraits
“On March 14th I got frustrated with feeling paralyzed - sitting at home endlessly reading the news - and decided to do the only thing I'm qualified to do and make some art. I put a long lens on my camera and headed out by foot. As I walked towards the shopping centre I asked people from a distance if I could take their pictures from far away. Many said no, but some said yes. I wanted to see if I could capture this strange tense in-between moment we are currently in. Things are changing fast yet we're also sort of stuck in time not knowing what comes next. I’ll keep doing this as long as it makes sense - I’m hoping this project doesn’t last too long. These videos are all shot from at least 5m away with a long lens. These unedited videos try to record in real-time this strange period we are all in together.”
- Adad Hannah
It is a privilege for us to be able to share a selection of this new work by Adad Hannah. The Musée d’art de Joliette thanks the artist for this kind authorization. See the latest on adadhannah.com or on Instagram @adadhannah
Our Glints and Reflections exhibition, curated by Lynn Bannon and Anne-Marie St-Jean Aubre, will be presented this fall at The Rooms, Newfoundland.
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 55 (babies don't do still edition), 2020.
"My maternity leave was supposed to end on Monday, so now it’s just continuing in some way. We have had to readjust our expectations for sure. I think we’re in it for the long-haul. Everyone is betting on a vaccine but it’s not that easy. Maybe we need to step back from this globalized world?"
Kate and Quincy
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"It’s been a little surreal. I work in investment banking so my work is pretty much zero these days. Everyone took on too much debt for the last ten years and now there’s going to be some brutalness. It’s all a nightmare."
Kyle
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 54 (back-alley-beer edition), 2020.
"Having a nice little get together with the neighbours, each staying on our side of the alley - individual appetizers, individual drinks, communicating, talking. We’re gonna do this every week, this is the first. I think it’s going to last into the fall for sure. I’m retired so I can stay home and help homeschool my daughter."
Tony
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"I’m still working, we still have boats delivering to the islands. We’re part of the supply chain with food and medical supplies. The guys live on board the boats for a week each and we sanitize all the time. We are stuck at home, can’t goout but still in good spirits. It’s tough to not be able to visit with people."
Monica
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 52 (teacher edition), 2020.
"I’m a grade 4-7 music teacher. I actually went to my school today and saw my empty music room full of guitars that are not being played by any of my kids. But we’re working on it. I’m meeting with other teachers and trying to figure out a plan to keep some continuity without overburdening parents. We’re feeling overwhelmed by it all, but we’re trying to look forbright spots."
Corina and Chris
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 51 (the lady in red edition), 2020.
"It’s nice to get my picture taken. I’ve been staying in my apartment watching TV and eating. It’s like the world just stopped. It’s ridiculous with this virus. We can’t go anywhere, shopping, or anything. We just have to stick to our apartment. We only come out to have a smoke then go back in again. I talk and text with my family but it’s about all we can do."
Susan
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 50 (how did we get here edition), 2020.
“It feels weird cause it’s my Birthday. I celebrated yesterday with my grandparents but we had to social distance from each other. Tomorrow will be my other grandparents they’re going to stand in front of our house. "
Cassandra and Rozsika
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 47 (watching someone else on a trampoline edition), 2020.
"I don’t really like it because I can’t see my friends or anything. I FaceTime with my friends about five hours a day. I watch my friend jump on her trampoline a lot. Soccer is cancelled, piano we’re doing through Zoom. One positive I guess is that the environment is improving and there is less pollution."
Savannah
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 45 (cheap gas edition), 2020.
"I’m keeping busy at home, cleaning up my basement and clearing out some stuff. With no work I’m keeping busy withother projects. I always come down here as gas is a bit cheaper, so sometimes I use the one here and sometimes the other one, you know, spread your money around. I’m from England so I always call family and keep up with the news there too."
Willie
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 43 (Friday night edition), 2020.
"We’re Quarantine Buddies. We all just stay at this guy’s house, it’s a nice little life. It’s enjoyable, just us three, playing video games and doing our schoolwork. We planned this in advance. I have a girlfriend but I haven’t seen her in at least a week, it’s pretty sad, I won’t lie. We’re young, we’ve never experienced anything like this before. It’s hard to believe it might last till summer. Back then we were all making jokes about bat soup and now it’s serious."
Daniel, Nima, Devin
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Portrait 32 (tree-planter edition), 2020.
“Our season might get cancelled or delayed. I’m one of the managers and this is super uncertain. We’re going as if we’re going, but if the government shuts us down there’s nothing we can do. I’m optimistic - I think - if people listen to the government. Hopefully it will pass. There’ll be all kinds of social questions after this. Hopefully people don’t just forget about this once it’s over.”
Sergei
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Portrait 31 (let's beat this thing edition), 2020.
“We’re boxing, trying to keep it positive. We don’t want to stop completely but we’re taking it easy, we just want to stay in shape. I think our doctors are working hard, I believe they are working days and nights, they’re under a lot of pressure. Once they are 100 percent about it they’ll take care of it. We have to keep it positive, it’s going to be okay, everyone is going to be okay.”
Qadir
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Portrait 17, 2020.
"It’s scary because I don’t know if I’ll have work. I’m a painter and everything is shut down.”
Dimas
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Music composed by Daniel Ingram
Adad Hannah, Social Distancing Video Portrait 41 (student sisters edition), 2020.
"It’s challenging as a student. I’m concerned about missing out on my education. It’s challenging because everything is changing to online right at the end of the semester. I feel like I’m stuck at home and I can’t hang out with my friends."
Kristina and Katey
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Music composed by Brigitte Dajczer @brigamusic