Andra Ragusila
Hello Can You Hear Me
My video piece deals with the themes of the privilege of being in quarantine and getting bored, as well as the mental health challenges of being in quarantine.
Through the video I am trying to show the paradoxes of being all alone, while being constantly connected through technology. The images show the ever-increasing sense of claustrophobia of being cooped up. The house is getting increasingly filled up with my presence.
The call recording attempts to preserve a sense of normalcy, trying to have a conversation while there is nothing normal about not being able to see loved ones down the street. An increasing high pitch makes the atmosphere more tense. The speakers attempt to offer comfort and support, while at a loss for effective coping strategies besides inane chatter and nervous giggling.
The result is an awkward effort of preserving normalcy while the voices crackle with a sense of longing. The video offers no solutions; instead it shows our persistence of hanging on to the past as we struggle to survive and find a sense of safety.