Oct. 4th, 2020.
“What if only that which is not virtual created my memories? What if only interactions not mediated by a device could be remembered? Which traces of contacts would remain?”
From this inquiry, artist Jennifer Cabral initiated a tracing back of each day, and a looking back at moments taking place without mediation via a digital device. In searching for tactile, palatable, audible, olfactory and visual stimuli that directly impressed her senses, a diary of sorts began. Using a blackboard and chalk, erasable and temporary traces of her quotidian started to be captured.
This process became a daily striving to identify all her close contacts (within 6 feet and at least 15 minutes or longer)* that occurred outside the digital realm. She tries to remember all non-virtual environments, very much like the process of contact tracing being adopted during this pandemic as part of containment strategies for covid-19 - identify that which a person came into contact with.
I have an invitation to make: Look back at this day. From what just happened 5 minutes ago, to the first instant you opened your eyes this morning. Which moments you have experienced today without a device in sight?
- Jen Cabral
“We have plenty of room in our lives for knowledge and data, for learning and information, amusement and entertainment, but not for wisdom.” - Peter Kingsley, In the dark places of Wisdom.
Catalpa pods.
* AS AN IMMUNE-COMPROMISED INDIVIDUAL, THE ARTIST PRACTICES ALL RECOMMENDATIONS TO AVOID EXPOSURE TO COVID-19, INCLUDING SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING MASKS AND AVOIDING INDOOR SPACES, AS WELL AS QUARANTINING MAIL AND PACKAGES FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS.
Contact traces is part of a series of works called I wash my hands being created by Jennifer Cabral throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.