VICARIOUS YOUTH is a street photography series, that depicts the psychological struggles of adolescents attempting to reintegrate into the cacophony of the post-lockdown world. It explores the idea of experiencing youth through the captured moments of others. This voyeuristic approach emulates the distant participation in life through digital screens, as the pandemic remains prevalent for those in isolation with Covid-19. The digitally manipulated images illustrate how living through online media has distorted the perception of tangible reality. The use of a vibrant palette and glitch aesthetic further represents the fracture in physical life experiences, due to increased digitalisation which we have grown accustomed to during lockdown. They highlight the disorienting effects of navigating a new world, while also simulating the symptoms of long-term Covid-19 such as brain fog and fatigue. The resulting images visualise the overwhelming emotions many youths face in a world that has a sense of foreign familiarity. The series also emphasises ambiguity to convey the confusion and feeling of displacement in society because of various uncertainties. There is a narrative of disillusionment regarding being an adolescent during this time. As a result, depression is on the rise as many people mourn the loss of their younger days and feel far from carefree but are rather distressed by the reality they are confronted with. The work reflects a part of the collective mental health toll on youth, by exploring the difficulties in reestablishing connections between our digital and physical worlds. It is a metaphor for the current times and a reminder that mixed emotions are valid as we adjust to the new ‘normal’ way of living. It encourages people to reflect on their time as a youth and empathise with the struggles of growing up in the climate of this present world.
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