Portraits | Ventiko

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PORTRAITS

Chris Walker, Lower East Side, Manhattan, NY, March 22, 2020

"I’m doing ok. The world makes no sense right now but I’m ok with that. My marriage makes no sense & that sucks but is out of my control. Luckily, I’m not someone who gets bothered very much. I do what I can & try to realize what is out of my control is out of my control. It’s a lot. I forget sometimes that we are living through a crisis of epic proportions because I’m just riding my bike & watching Seinfeld all day. It’s always in my head in some way whether I realize it or not."

Katelijne de Backer with son Szymon & cats, Johnny & Cleopatra, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY, March 24, 2020

"We have started a new, surreal life with this pandemic. We don't go outside anymore, except for grocery shopping, running (me) or skating (my son). Apart from that, we try to be responsible & wash our hands & practice social distancing. But most of all, we stay positive! I find my happiness in nature, meditation, spending time with my son, & enjoying messages from friends from all over the world! Eventually, this will pass."

Echo Hu & Noah Fisk, Preparing donations of PPE for N95 for NYC, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, April 5, 2020

“While most people have been isolating at home since the break out in New York, I didn't. Delivering PPEs to frontier healthcare workers in New York has become my new weekly routine besides WFH. When I first started N95forNYC, it’s just a little self-help. I had mild COVID-19 symptoms & started to see all the sufferings of people around, & got to know the extreme shortage of PPEs in New York healthcare systems. I didn’t expect that we'd become a team of 9 girls & continue this journey till today… I have gotten to know some great people who I likely would have never met; people who live far away from the art world. To be able to help others feel good, like Cuomo said, this whole thing is not about heroism, it's about decency. Although isolated, the absolute beauty of the world is still the most important thing to think about when waking up in the morning.”

Thee Suburbia, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, April 8, 2020

“This pandemic has affected my entire lifestyle as a creative person & a community builder. So many things were going right, lots of shows & lots of opportunities for QPOC creatives of all types of talents. My mission has been to continue creating space & stages for QPOC performers during this time. For myself? I’ve made it my job to create at least one creative vision a day. For me, my prerogative as a drag artist is to give you a vision. So... I got so anxious that my hair started to grow all over. This photo was taken the day before I put nair on my face... see what I did there 😽”

Kylie Lefkovitz, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, April 10, 2020

"“The creator gives the hardest battles to the strongest warriors”. In challenging times I do my best to remember this allegory & let it motivate me to keep going. One of the most difficult challenges I think we face collectively is actually more about how we care for ourselves. This time of isolation is giving us all an opportunity to look in the mirror & ask the hard questions about how we can truly show up for ourselves.

Philosophically, theologically, mythologically - I’ve been doing a lot of thinking with this new abundance of time for deep self reflection. “Everything comes to be, from its opposite...”; this is an ancient concept. Healing only occurs when there is disease or injury. The whole only exists because of all the individual facets that it comprises. In this global collective experience of illness, I am reminded that it is also indeed a nuanced opportunity for global collective healing.

In isolation we find new connectedness through communication, true connection with ourselves through being present with our bodies, and more spiritual connection as we allow ourselves to give and receive help unconditionally in times of uncertainty. I am very thankful for my health. I am thankful."