THE PANDEMIC FILES

2020–2021

When Covid-19 swept across the world in 2020, my initial reaction was one of disbelief. Like many others, I struggled to come to terms with the surreal experience of an invisible enemy disrupting everyday life on a global scale.

As an artist, I felt an urgent need to capture what was unfolding around me: the fear, the uncertainty, the grief, but also the absurdity, resilience and unexpected humour that emerged during this extraordinary period. I found myself wondering how all these different and often contradictory aspects of the pandemic could be brought together within a single project.

At the time, my painting practice was partly inspired by early twentieth-century photography. During my research, I came across images from the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918: photographs of deserted streets, masked citizens and public notices urging people to keep their distance from one another. The parallels with contemporary events were striking.

The Pandemic Files emerged from this intersection of history, fiction and lived experience. Through photomontage, fictional interviews and documentary aesthetics, I created a series of fifteen fictional portraits set within an alternative pandemic reality. Together, these characters form a mosaic of human responses to a global crisis — from fear and loss to denial, humour, hope and resilience.

Meet Helga von Geistdörfer

Age: 61
Occupation: Photographer / Journalist

My name is Helga von Geistdörfer. For many years, I made my living as a culinary photographer and journalist, travelling the world and documenting people, places and cultures. My work appeared in magazines and publications across the globe.

When the pandemic brought international travel to a sudden halt, all my assignments were cancelled. For the first time in my life, I found myself without work and without direction. Like so many others, I struggled to make sense of a world that seemed to have changed overnight.

After a period of uncertainty and reflection, I began to wonder how other people were coping with this unprecedented situation. How were they dealing with isolation, loss, fear, boredom, resilience, hope and uncertainty? As a journalist and photographer, I felt compelled to document their stories.

Unable to travel, I turned to an alternative solution: a long-distance vintage drone camera that allowed me to photograph people across cities, villages and countries from the safety of my home. The interviews were conducted remotely, by telephone and online.

The portraits collected in The Pandemic Files are the result of that journey. Some stories are heartbreaking. Some are absurd. Some are unexpectedly funny. Together they form a portrait of humanity during a time of extraordinary upheaval.

We are, after all, people behind masks. And perhaps in these stories you may find a little comfort, recognition, or even hope.

The streets fell silent. Nature reclaimed the spaces we had abandoned.

Character Archive

The following portraits present a cross-section of life in an alternative pandemic reality. Some stories are tragic, some absurd, some unexpectedly humorous. Together they form a mosaic of human responses to a global crisis.

Click on any portrait to enter the archive.