No Masks
Pedro Rafael Noguera, born in Santa Marta-Colombia, known by artistic pseudonym of PETRUS PETRACUS, is an emerging visual artist from the Colombian Caribbean who presents to Creativity in the Time of COVID-19 a portraits series entitled "The Mirror, Four Stories of the Inner SELF Reflection". These Images belong to his most recent photographic work, inspired in some crucial psychic experiences of three characters, during the lockdown period, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic."The Mirror, Four Stories of the Inner SELF Reflection". These Images belong to his most recent photographic work, inspired in some crucial psychic experiences of three characters, during the lockdown period, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this, Petrus Petracus experiences an honest recall of unusual emotional circumstances experienced by its anonymous protagonists, which were recreated on request, being sensibly captured through his vision:” In the complete privacy and security of rustic bedrooms, its characters were pleased to be portrayed; even, feeling uninhibited, and showed themselves naked with great freedom. It was a special occasion for me to suggest the use of a mirror-tool intended for self-observation or vanity exaltation- as an essential element, due to the narrative purpose of this urban photographic work”
The Mirror, Four Stories of the Inner SELF Reflection, allows us, among many other countless personal experiences occurred in recent pandemic times in particular, how such a dramatic global success, emotionally affected daily lives of four Colombian natives during lockdown. This sad circumstance gave rise to disinhibiting their inner self and acknowledging in it, this meant a heavy burden of adverse emotions, where fear of death was prevalent. However, this fact curiously led them to create self-defense mechanisms: Taking bedroom´s intimacy, freed themselves in body and soul and willing to adopt new behaviors without any prejudice by doing things previously few or none considered. Thus, nudity, putting on makeup or cross-dressing became pleasant activities to daily routine, then more, such as listening to music, reading books or chatting in social networks.
Those unusual habits perhaps mitigated considerably negative effects in their mental and emotional health as a result of long social isolation.
Therefore, being naked or dressed up, or self-contemplation in front of a mirror, could be considered by them a meaningful experience. But, such a daring assumption, perhaps can lead us to think about some other ambiguous meanings…
Photograph 2. "No Masks".
"I observed that since the beginning of the pandemic many people began to show themselves exercising on social networks either by mere healthy attitude or by vanity to feel flattered, desired or popular with the pile of "likes". But to me the opposite when I showed myself not doing a physical activity: "you're fat, what an ugly belly, look at that drained body, upload photos like me of my body" and many more things than you can imagine, phrases that hit, stupid comments that do not deserve to turn it over in your head.
When this happens, I take refuge in the health of my family environment or seek in the privacy of my room the necessary intimacy to see myself in front of a mirror, listen to the music I like the most, play my guitar and sing to life in the company of HERA, my faithful canine pet that always relaxes faster and appears to be sleeping, but attentive to everything that happens with me. As I am a theater actor I like to make up and do characterizations or acting sketches that I record with my cell phone and spread on the networks. When I do my make-up I undress trying to find the face of my inner self; also analyzing my body detail by detail and I only know that my reflection tells me that I am a happy man, as I see myself, I don't need to see myself as others want me to see myself, I love my body and more my inner self, that is what makes me unique and original.
I am a man without complexities, I have no masks. I only wear masks when I am an actor, my passion. Free and naked I enjoy the melodies of each instrument played in my favorite songs, like the blues of Memphis "la blusera"."
• Quote from the protagonist.
