Sabrina Merolla

Photographer, Multimedia Storyteller, Sinologist (PhD)

"Daydreamings and White Lies" at FESTIVAL OF ETHICAL PHOTOGRAPHY / OFF Exhibition

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Focus: Photographer, Photojournalist, Filmmaker, Journalist, Fine Art, Environment, Photography, Art, Culture, International News, Journalist Investigative, Freelance, Civil Rights and Social Inequality, Humanitarian, Impact, Assignments, Human Rights, Lecturer, Multimedia Journalist, Storyteller, Climate, Advocacy, News Reporter, Feature Journalist, Long Form Reporter, Political Journalism, Arts Journalism, Feature Stories, Environmental Stories, International Stories, Social Justice, Reportage

Chestnuts Park, London, UK. Apr...nimum social distance was 2 mt.

Chestnuts Park, London, UK. April 10-11, 2020: the first markers of lockdown were the locked playgrounds and new road signs. The English lockdown started on March 23, 2020. Based on social distancing, it never led to forbid people from going out to exercise once a day, and shopping for essential goods. The new signals suddenly appeared everywhere, while the main places of social interaction shut down. In the UK the minimum social distance was 2 mt.

London, March 2020: While the G... respiratory crisis (March 22).

London, March 2020: While the Government still debated on herd immunity, I bought essential food and medications and started to shelter. Since then on, my friends, flatmates and family became crucial for both practical help and my mental wellbeing. 1. My friend Piera and her son Daniel during a video-call. 2. Me sunbathing through my room window while isolating from my flatmates. 3. The painkillers that first caused my respiratory crisis (March 22).

1. Cranleigh Road, London, UK. ...ut of Chestnuts Primary School.

1. Cranleigh Road, London, UK. April 9, 2020: A socially distanced conversation with my friend and neighbour Arianna, who left a bag of food at the door. Despite public statements about people with neurological conditions' vulnerability, patients affected by fibromyalgia, ME and MCS were never provided with any practical support. 2. Chestnuts Primary School, St. Ann’s Road, London. April 9, 2020: “Keep smiling” suggests the handmade rainbow signal out of Chestnuts Primary School.

1. Woodlands Park Road, London,...rywhere in Woodlands Park Road.

1. Woodlands Park Road, London, UK. April 12-28, 2020: A big sign out of my neighbours' window says “Give them PPE”. It refers to the poor safety work conditions of frontline NHS staff. The public opinion thinks that the pandemic safety measures were taken too late in England, and growingly complains about it on social media. Small photos: Paradoxically, scattered PPEs are left everywhere in Woodlands Park Road.

1. Chestnuts Park, London, UK. ...y reactions as COVID19 - again.

1. Chestnuts Park, London, UK. April 27, 2020: My neighbors exercise and walk in the park early in the morning. The atmosphere is surreal. Everyone manages to keep the distance, but we are constantly on the watch out. Every person vaguely approaching feels like a scary group of four. 2-3. My home in London, UK. April 30, 2020: I inspect my swollen tongue in the mirror. In few hours, I will be breathless again, and the Emergency nurse will misdiagnose my immunity reactions as COVID19 - again.

1. Chestnuts Park, London, UK. ...firm that I never had COVID-19.

1. Chestnuts Park, London, UK. May 8, 2020: An apocalyptic sunrise in the park. 2. At home in London: After consulting a private GP who confirms severe pharyngitis and GERD due to immune reactions to medications, that burned my airways for almost seven weeks, my chest x-rays confirm that I never had COVID-19.

1. Naples, Italy. May 23, 2020:...n shows COVID-19 main symptoms.

1. Naples, Italy. May 23, 2020: My profile mirrored in the window glass. After more than six weeks of misdiagnosed illnesses and white lies, I rest on the carpet. Small pictures from lower left clockwise: 1. My oximeter. 2. At home in London. April 4: My parents during one of our daily video calls. 3. St. Ann’s Road, London. April 16: Neighbors' children chalk drawings and messages of moral support. 4. Whittington Hospital Emergency, London. April 30, 2020: A sign shows COVID-19 main symptoms.

1. Chestnuts Park, London. Apri...tons to exorcise pain and fear.

1. Chestnuts Park, London. April 6, 2020: Someone was partying all night long. People are tired of the lockdown and respect the rules less and less. 2. London, UK. April 5, 2020: Queen Elizabeth II acknowledges “a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all”. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is hospitalized. 3. April 6, 2020: Fitness, exercise and wellness help many Brittons to exorcise pain and fear.

1. London, UK. March 29, 2020: ...if I'd believed in God.

1. London, UK. March 29, 2020: I receive an old picture from my cousin Enrico. It portrays me and my cousins as kids, at his Holy Communion party. Enrico is a surgeon in Northern Italy, now. He discretely monitored my conditions and cheered me up for weeks. 2. Green Lanes, Harringay, London. April 30, 2020: a rosary hangs from the rearview mirror of a parked car. And, yes, I do ask myself if everything would make more sense if I'd believed in God.

Heathrow Airport, London, UK. M...the street during the lockdown.

Heathrow Airport, London, UK. May 2020: As the plane takes off and I move away from these last two months of madness, I find myself surrounded by clouds and silence. Small picture 1: I go to the airport by private car and bless my driver, yet another essential worker who gives me support during this pandemic. Small picture 2: Naples, Italy. May 23, 2020: A line of broken cars left on the street during the lockdown.

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Events News

"Daydreamings and White Lies" at FESTIVAL OF ETHICAL PHOTOGRAPHY / OFF Exhibition

sabrina merolla

Sep 7, 2020

My personal reportage/photocollage about my own Covid19 lockdown experience with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) and fibromyalgia, "Daydreamings & WhiteLies", has been selected for the OFF exhibition at FESTIVAL DELLA FOTOGRAFIA ETICA [Ethical Photography Festival]!

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