DISCARDED - Reflections on a Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic that hit in 2020 sent the world reeling. Forced into shelter-in-place measures and having to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when outside became the new normal. Everything shifted — from in person to remote — including, work, education, socialization, and recreation. We were isolated and alone.

The enormous number of PPE masks and gloves that I noticed laying on the ground soon became an obsession of mine. To me they summarized and symbolized the polluted state of the world and the notion of “I Can’t Breathe” brought on by the murder of Gerge Floyd and the many other BIPOC individuals who have succumbed to a similar fate. Documenting discarded PPE gave me a purpose and provided a distraction from my lonliness. 

DISCARDED was started as a way to have individuals across the globe reflect on these unprecedented circumstances. I sent an image of discarded PPE to interested individuals and asked them to reflect on their experiences. They could use the image in any way to visualize their experience, thoughts, ideas, and / or emotional response to the pandemic and the years 2020 and 2021 in general.

The results have been collected and are shared here in this book. The book contains a collection of 686 images of discarded PPE23 participant responses, and 26 images of discarded PPE sent in from other individuals. Thank you to everyone who participated in this international collaborative project.

You can buy the book online at https://www.blurb.com/b/11128497-discarded.

All proceeds will go to Greenpeace.