Early in the year I saw a cartoon where the Characters stated that 2020 started in a buggy way and asked if it would not be possible to press the “reset” button. Looking back to this year, I strongly believe it has revealed a lot about human nature and our way of dealing with extraordinary situations in life. It also told us all on how important that freedom to move around and meet everyone we would like to meet anywhere anytime really is. It also brought us back to value the real important people in society, who deserves our appreciation for taking responsibility, working hard on caring or on researching to find the vaccines and helping means during this pandemic. This year also gives a strong signal towards solidarity in society, staying home and wearing masks to be seen not only as a means to protect oneself, but to protect others, more vulnerable members of society, even though they may be our closest relatives. Knowing some people being hit hart by the Virus, I have limited understanding for the claim, that we are deprived of our basic rights. Vigilance on basic rights is of course OK, but creating conspiracy ideologies (not to use the word of “theory”, which would make the strange alliance of these weird ideas to science) seems more like an expression of anxiety, uncertainty and a lack of ability to address the issue in a calm, evidence based and at least in an effective way without harming the solidarity and social coherence in our societies.
For me personally, I took the opportunity to move around in the country where I live, being out in nature as often as possible, while at the same time striving for successful execution of the tasks in my job, even though no professional travelling was possible, which so often gave me the opportunity to explore the host countries and cities photographically. However, I took the opportunity to try new approaches an learn more about art in general, and photography, focussing on the creative process. Besides the Ticino Workshop by FineArtPix I took part in the “Seeing Through Photographs” Course on Coursera, mentored by Sarah Meister, Curator for Photography at MOMA. This focus on the creative process included experimenting with some less conventional ways in capturing and post processing which I will probably continue next year.
To all my friends, family and readers of my monthly block, I wish you a less challenging, more relaxed and healthy new year, resilience against the strokes of life, and that at least some of your wishes may come true!
And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us, new, untouched,
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letter to his wife Clara, January 1, 1907
full of things that have never been, full of work that has never been done,
full of tasks, claims, and demands; and let us see that we learn to take it
without letting fall too much of what it has to bestow
upon those who demand of it necessary, serious, and great things
