Lockdown • Photo essay

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Sum-mary

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I N T RO D U C T I O N

W H E N D A I LY L I F E B E C A M E A C O N S T R A I N T 3

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E M P T I N E S S I N S TA L L S I T S E L F

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A N D F R U S T R AT I O N R O S E

B U T T H E R E I S A L W AY S L I G H T

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A N D L I F E D O E S N ’ T S TO P

Lockdown • Photo essay • Amandine Ollier

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May 7th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz - France, Home, A veiled freedom

Introduction

O n Tu e s d a y t h e 1 7 t h o f M a r c h 2 0 2 0 , t h e l o c k d o w n i s a n n o u n c e d in France due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. This was the beginning of two months of confinement. Uncertainty and frustration rose. Here in Ville-en-Sallaz, we believe that every b a d s i t u a t i o n h a s i t s p a r t o f l i g h t . We a re l u c k y e n o u g h t o b e surrounded by mountains. Even though it was pretty hard to be unable to enjoy the outdoor as usual*, life didn’t stop.

This whole period of lack of freedom gave us the possibility to notice things we probably would have never seen in other circomstances. Maybe it was the right time for some of us to reconsider our way of life, to enjoy very little pleasures that e v e r y d a y l i f e h a s t o o f f e r.

And if sometimes during the lockdown this feeling of oppression come back, perhaps thinking and getting inspiration from those who survived isolation and imprisonment would help to overcome the situation.

* During the lockdown in France, the population was allowed to go outside one hour a day for doing sport in a perimeter of 1km around the house. Access to mountains was consequently forbidden to officially not overload emergency services for some already overwhelmed but most probably to maintain the unity of the country facing the pandemia.

Lockdown • Photo essay • Amandine Ollier

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When daily life became a constraint *

Photographs from left to right: Alexis, March 23rd 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, living-room, The derogatory travel certificate May 7th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz - France, Home, A veiled freedom March 26th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, When daily life became a constraint

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* Attestation de déplacement dérogatoire (Derogatory travel certificate).

This certificate had to be filled and saved before every indispensable travel (work, grocery shopping, medical issues, etc.). Every person with no valid reason to move was susceptible to be fined to 135€ (cumulative each time you can get arrested in the same day). On May, 12th a new certificate replaced the previous one enlarging the perimeter to 100km around the home place. It was finally abandon on June, 2nd re-establihing freedom of movement on the whole French territory.

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April 7th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Suffocating

Emptiness installs itself

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March 23rd 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Imprisonment

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March 23rd 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Stairs, Vertigo

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March 24th 2020,Ville-e Mood

en-Sallaz, France, Home, d face

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April 4th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Fly away

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April 2nd 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Great escape

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Alexis, March 25th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, ‘Prisoner’

March 30th 2020,V

Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Trapped

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And frustration rose

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Alexis, March 26th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, living-room, Melancholia

U N C E R TA I N T Y

This lockdown initiated a huge period of uncertainty for many workers in the area.

For many industries in the Vallée de l’Arve*, 30% of the workers are working on site, 20% are doing home office. All the rest are in partial activity. Every short-term contracts haven’t been renewed.

Most of the industries in the Vallée de l’Arve are still only working at 10% of their whole productivity nowadays. * They are representing 70% of the screw-machining industry in France, and 30% of employment in Haute-Savoie.

March 30th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Uncertainty

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But there is always light April 20th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Souvenir

And life doesn’t stop

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April 26th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, “Always look on the bright side of life”*

* “Always look on the bright light of life”, Eric Idle,The Monthy Python

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Alexis, March 22nd 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Storage room Life doesn’t stop

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Alexis, April 5th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, When rockclimbing isn’t possible, it’s time for creativity

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Alexis, March 22nd 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, kitchen, French positivism*

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ch rediscover the pleasure of cooking during the lockdown. The kitchen is an important gathering place for the family in France.

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Alexis, March 26th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Home, Inside out

INVICTUS* “ Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

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Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. ” ­William Ernest Henley * Nelson Mandela’s favorite poem. It helped him to keep strenghts and momentum during his 27 years of incarceration.

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April 26th 2020,Ville-en-Sallaz, France, Balcony, A drop of hope

SPECIAL THANKS I would like to add a word of special thanks to my roomate who allows me to document 26

his daily life during this period which was particularly tough for him at work.

Lockdown • Photo essay • Amandine Ollier

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