The COVID Generation
We have been living in traumatic times of loss of life, freedoms, and collective mass isolations. This has affected everyone’s liberties in countless different ways. This body of work deals with the loss of freedoms and dreams of a particular generation of young adults.
These portraits are from students from the Guernsey Grammar School and Sith Form Centre. Traditionally for this age group, the period of lockdown and isolation would have been a time of exploration. Self-development, education, learning, and friendship making.
Furthermore, preparing for a new life as young adults, with new forthcoming found freedoms. With the excitement of going to University or new employments and having adventures of unknown journeys.
All of these experiences have been postponed or dramatically reduced over the past 20 months. Leaving this generation, full of anxiety, a lack of social skills, liberties and a feeling of dread for their future.
With no end to the Pandemic and the COVID mutations in sight. The effects of impending lockdowns, isolations and the uncertainties of being healthy or even a live for the future. Has played a considerable role in this generation’s mental health.
The students who took part in this project had an option of 20 coloured material back drops to choose from. This allowed the students to be part of the creative process and portray their emotions through colure.
Colure has a complex relationship with the human psyche. Some colour preferences derive from culture and society, while others are learnt through experiences. As we encounter situations in our daily life, our memory is shaped by some of these experiences and our brain links emotions to them. Colours are present in our everyday environment, which facilitates an emotion-colour association.