There is stillness and movement. Laughter, rejoicing, yet also anger, a burning. We have been called to pause, rest, yet there is more action than ever. I stay, I move. I sit, I run. I move with, in the beauty and chaos that is today. -free flow writing by Faith Dawa
Ever since news of Covid-19 moving rapidly across the globe stirred up chaos and alarm, the term ‘movement‘ has left a particular impression on me. Like a certain food after-taste, having to explain what it means to move leaves more puzzlement, pauses, and tilting of the head as I try to bring into a definition and contextualise what it means to move today.
As the government and society all over the world introduces a new way of moving and interacting with others in the public space, we are now to physically distance ourselves and remain 6 feet apart from others. Here, the term “movement” gains a new meaning.
Gathering of Materials
Rocks: As I reflect on the weight of a rock, the more I am able to connect with my thoughts and questions. Looking at the stillness of rocks, this was a complete opposite of what it meant to move.
The rocks outside my home represents my current state: static, helpless, unable to do anything else, heavy weighed down emotionally.
As I gather the rocks, I notice the differences of each rock: its shape, weight, smoothness, textures, and even the sound it makes as it collides another rock. Taking note of these, I wonder about the different lives affected by Covid-19. From afar, it seems that we are all experiencing and going through the same thing- lock down, staying at home. But as we look closely, we are each navigating though this new normal in different ways- with each experience having its own heaviness, struggle, discomfort, anxiety.
Studio Space:
After gathering, I set up a small studio in my room. Initially made to be a storage for the rocks, I rearrange the rocks to articulate my current understanding of movement: physical distancing.
As I move the rocks around, I notice the shadows of each rock. Each shadow being a temporary trail or memory created by the rocks as long as the lamp is in a certain position. In today’s context, there seems to be a lot of varying conditions on how we are to be outside:
- “as long as we are physically distancing ourselves, we’re fine”
- “#stayhome”
- “you MUST wear a mask; don’t leave without it”
- “only go out for essentials”
- “Canada is low risk”
…and the list goes on.
By marking down these shadows, I think about how our movement is dictated not only by what our current government says, but by how we interpret their words. As beaches and trails continue to remain packed most especially during sunny weather despite government efforts to close them down, this only proves how we still are bound by our own thinking and interpretation.
