Inspired by Daniel Defoe's 'A Journal of the Plague Year,' which chronicled London's 1665 Bubonic Plague epidemic, 'Actual Haunted House: A Record of the Times,' (2020) is a written and...
Inspired by Daniel Defoe's "A Journal of the Plague Year," which chronicled London's 1665 Bubonic Plague epidemic, "Actual Haunted House: A Record of the Times," (2020) is a written and visual 'record' of the artists' experience in quarantine in their Brooklyn apartment. The work features Simon Evans' diary entries from March 6 - April 2, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down New York City and much of the world. Mimicking the form of a vinyl record, dark blue text circles around a drawing of the pre-2001 New York skyline. Centered on the ghostly outline of the Twin Towers, the scene is an ominous reminder of an earlier collective crisis. Short phrases showcase the artists' dark humor and sharp wit.
1042pm March 6 2020 The Coronavirus is one word. It makes the media lick its lips in my mouth. The virus diaries The plague diaries by Daniel Defoe written by Robinson Crusoe shipwrecked in London. A state of emergency has been declared in New York and me and the dogs are barking at the front door.
March 10 1048pm The market sells us a Rosie future but not today and we will feel it tomorrow. I hate the way they make it seem like we are fighting a war against numbers. Tom Hanks has the Virus. He’s our canary now
March 24 Beautiful day outside I’m the mister Rogers of instagram. Corona or not The city problem is still people