DIARIES
Documenting culture's journey out of the crisisWe know this current situation will make it into the history books, but what is it really like to live through it now and how will it be remembered. We have invited creative individuals to record their journey through Covid-19 to create a digital diary.
In partnership with Literature Works, we have invited Holly Peters to be our first contributor. Holly is a 19-year-old student from Plymouth University, studying English Literature with Publishing and is Plymouth’s Young City Laureate.
Our second contributor, in partnership with Take a Part is Katie Oborn who is currently studying journalism on a distance learning course through The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). She also writes poetry, fiction and reads her work at spoken word events, when not in lockdown! Katie also has acting experience, loves drama, theatre, dance and performance.
In partnership with Fotonow, we have invited two photographers to capture images that reflect upon this current moment in time.
Anita Benjamin is a documentary photographer based in Plymouth that explores the significance of place and land as a dimension of human life, encompassing themes of cultural and social experiences and identity.
Raman Feiz is also a filmmaker and writer currently based in Plymouth. He was born in Kurdistan (Iran) and holds a BA degree in Cinema from University of Art & Culture, Tehran (Iran). He wrote and directed the short ‘Sar’, and self-published photo book ‘Life in War’ which depicts people impacted by war.
Moving Away From Lockdown
‘A ray of sunshine on a crisp autumn morning and a walk in nature always restores good mental health and keeps my spirits up during difficult times.’
read moreA socially distanced Carnival Parade
‘Something good to come out of the pandemic, a way to bring the community together safely’
read moreAfter Lockdown: Still Adjusting
‘I started writing these entries as we were adjusting to the empty streets, empty shelves in supermarkets, the empty days. ‘
read moreMoving Away From Lockdown
Receiving GCSE results, a socially distanced visit to the City Centre and preparations for the return to school
read morePost-lockdown performance at Coxside Cafe Acoustica
Local artists perform poetry, dance, music and songs and it almost felt like the old normal.
read moreAfter Lockdown: Monthly Ghosts
‘Looking back – time a fragmented puzzle, racing but trundling, fast then slow. Not as we have known, close and then far and then close again…’
read moreMoving away from lockdown
“A visit to a car dealership since lockdown was a little different with Sanitising stations on entrance and all new cars sanitised. “
read moreAugust 2020
Katie visits Plymouth market Stall 24 selling comfy slippers for working from home and face-coverings for visiting shops.
read moreWelcome Back
‘The world was beginning to shed its petals, unfurling like spring into summer’
read morePost lockdown photodiary
On a walk through Plymouth City Centre and the Barbican, stopping for a coffee , I see and feel what is to be our new normal.
read moreJuly 2020
“Restrictions are lifted, lockdown eases and people continue their lives alongside coronavirus.”
read moreLockdown Photo Diary: Week 11
“The broken fence and wire with the flowers symbolises for me the gradual easing of
restrictions that we are experiencing at the moment and more freedom.”
Like Driving In A City I don’t Live In
“It’s like driving around a city I don’t live in. The present straining to fit the past into the wrong shape of the future.”
read moreMatthew in Covid-19
Matthew talks of how life in Lockdown has affected him, his family and his work with Fotonow in the latest of Raman’s Covid Letters.
read moreLockdown Photo Diary: week 10
Anita reflects upon the early morning queues and “open” signs on her journey to work as Plymouth continues to emerge from Lockdown.
read moreWeek 11: Reflecting
“Six months with years of events crammed in”
read moreLockdown Photo Diary: Week 9
“My son and I drove to the NHS test site to be tested for Covid-19”
read more24th June 2020
“This week has seen the results of the eased lockdown and humans are back in their masses.”
read moreCarole in Covid-19
“Enjoyed strangers smiling, birds singing in silent streets, better quality of air”
read more15th June 2020: Non-essential Shops Reopen
“It felt strange to see the streets buzzing with people again and day to day life is still far from normal”
read moreLockdown Photo Diary: Week 8
“New signs are being erected in bus shelters to ensure people keep safe, as the amount of people travelling on buses is anticipated to rise”
read moreJean in Covid-19
“It feels as though I am having to learn to live in another country where friends, family, activities, shopping and teaching are all seen through the medium of screen”
read moreBirthday
“We learn that with good food and family, a birthday in lockdown wasn’t really that different to a birthday before.”
read moreTeats Hill Beach Clean-Up
Katie joins a socially distanced beach clean on Teats Hill beach.
read moreLockdown Photo Diary: Week 7
“There are signs of preparation for the reopening of non-essential shops that are able to comply with the Covid secure guidelines”
read moreThen & Now
“I sit at my desk and write this lockdown diary. Document the elastic days that are simpler than the ones we have known. Hours on end to spend learning, educating, discovering. Growing.”
read moreDerek in Covid-19
“To be honest I’m quite enjoying the solitary pursuits”
read moreLockdown Photo Diary: Week 6
“Life feels so restricted and I long for the freedoms pre Covid-19”
read moreLucile in Covid-19
“It has been sixty days now, since the lockdown started here in the UK.”
read moreListening
“We watched the world change,
Shrink.
Now we watch it change again”
Community is key
Katie Oborn speaks with Plymouth volunteer group Clean Our Patch
read moreLockdown Photodiary: Week 5
Anita explores how we interact with our spaces as lockdown begins to ease
read moreRaman in Covid-19
‘We were co-ordinatinating and buying plane tickets when suddenly everything changed’
read moreCancellations
‘Dates slipping away becoming nothing more than another day of distance, another day locked away’
read moreTwo months, two metres
Eventually, things will change again
read moreBoredom
As boredom sets in, we look to our past selves for inspiration
read moreLockdown photodiary: Week 4
Anita’s son’s birthday has an unusually quietness
read moreLockdown Photodiary: Week 3
Anita captures the stillness of life in lockdown around Plymouth
read moreLockdown days: A Poem
Katie reflects on the passing of time during lockdown, includes a video of her reading
read moreLife Windows (Humans)
Raman studies the stories of the people at their windows during lockdown
read moreNew Normal
‘The lid hasn’t been lifted but they’ve pierced it with enough holes for us to breathe’ – Holly considers the easing of lockdown
read moreThank you NHS
Katie reflects on the community in the air during the clap for the NHS
read moreLife Windows (pets)
Raman’s first diary entry focuses on the windows of lockdown – and their pets
read moreLockdown photodiary – May 3
Exploring Mutley Plain and the Hoe
read moreVE Day
Holly considers the impact of VE Day on our lockdown routine
read moreLockdown photodiary
Anita is a documentary photographer based in Plymouth that explores the significance of place and land
read moreThe Weather
Every morning I wake up to the same day. In the same bed, in the same room.
read moreSupermarket chaos
Katie continues to document lockdown from March 23
read moreDay Three
Katie Oborn explores Plymouth without people
read moreTwenty Second Thoughts
Holly explores the effect of life on pause on us – and nature
read moreAdjusting
Holly’s first diary entry explores the nature of adjustment and how the absence of routine can derail your very sense of being.
read more