{"id":100,"date":"2026-06-02T17:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anoukbrusse.com\/?page_id=100"},"modified":"2026-06-03T06:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T06:43:11","slug":"the-pandemic-files","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/anoukbrusse.com\/?page_id=100","title":{"rendered":"THE PANDEMIC FILES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE PANDEMIC FILES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2020\u20132021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 from fear and loss to denial, humour, hope and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meet Helga von Geistd\u00f6rfer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 61
Occupation:<\/strong> Photographer \/ Journalist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My name is Helga von Geistd\u00f6rfer. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The portraits collected in The Pandemic Files<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

The streets fell silent. Nature reclaimed the spaces we had abandoned.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Character Archive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on any portrait to enter the archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Florence
Intensive Care Nurse<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Gilbert and Olga
Entrepeneurs<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tiffany and Bam Bam
Single mom<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Eduardo
Waiter<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Omar
Poet<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Edwina (and Jacob the parrot)
Lady of the Manor<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Luigi
Barber<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lavinia
Influencer<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Chidi
Sports Teacher<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Diego and Olivia
Retired<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Celeste and Jonah
Any work we can get our hands on<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Dr. Heinz-Friedrich von Munchhausen Psychiatrist<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jo
Head Nurse<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Astbjorn and Domhildur
Opera Singer and retired<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
‘Just call me Vladimir’
Musician\/Activist<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ulla and Frida <\/strong>
Future veterinarian and future monstertruck driver<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Zhang family
Unemployed, cashier and retired<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Trudy and Berend
Future doll doctor and future train driver<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Hanna
Lawyer<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Taffy
Lion Queen<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Madame Wuhansky
Bat trainer, medium and reader of palms and feet<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE PANDEMIC FILES 2020\u20132021 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-100","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nTHE PANDEMIC FILES - Anouk Brusse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/anoukbrusse.com\/?page_id=100\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"THE PANDEMIC FILES - Anouk Brusse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"THE PANDEMIC FILES 2020\u20132021 When Covid-19 swept across the world in 2020, my initial reaction was one of disbelief. 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