Adad Hannah’s (BFA 1998) pandemic-era Social Distancing Portraits have been acquired by the Royal BC Museum.

Purchased for the project titled For Our Times: Documenting BC During COVID-19, Adad’s works represent the first example of contemporary photography to be acquired by the BC Archives in decades, notes Equinox Gallery.

“The series creates a collective portrait at a pivotal historical moment,” Equinox writes.

Featuring people Adad encountered during the early months of the pandemic, the short video works were shot at a distance of at least five meters from each subject. A laconic description in Adad's Instagram bio notes the videos “look like photos because the people are staying still.” Each is accompanied by original music/sound design by Montreal-based composer and multi-instrumentalist, Brigitte Dajczer.

On his website, Adad writes that the project began as a response to a species of anxiety all too familiar to anyone who has endured lockdown.

“I got frustrated with feeling paralyzed — sitting at home endlessly reading the news — and decided to do the only thing I’m qualified to do and make some art,” Adad writes. “I put a long lens on my camera and headed out by foot. As I walked towards the shopping centre I asked people from a distance if I could take their pictures from far away. Many said no, but some said yes. I wanted to see if I could capture this strange tense in-between moment we are currently in. Things are changing fast yet we’re also sort of stuck in time not knowing what comes next.”

View the Social Distancing Portraits any time on Adad’s Instagram. A solo exhibition of new works by Adad, titled Studio Portraits, is currently on view at Equinox Gallery through May 8, 2021.