This project was initiated right at the start of lockdown. Overnight, all communication, entertainment, education, and informational exchange became relegated to our devices, and the resulting integrity of our collective mental + spiritual health was irrevocably altered. 

Everything was different and strange, of course, but a deeper nagging fear I had was that when this was all 'over', we would never get a moment to collectively grieve what had been lost, to hold each other, and discuss what's to come.

In between moments of sorrow and loss, deeper joy and acceptance were too found. I wondered, how could this tumultuous re-orientation be honored (or at the very least documented)? Wanting to ensure these varied experiences would not be forgotten, ya boy began to screenshot. And compile. And probe.

The media was placed in a folder called Surreality, which became a cozy home for my first-hand end-stage capitalism reporting. For years, everything from deadly weather reports (121º in the summer), to COVID test results, to tone-deaf marketing campaigns were all archived. I ventured into nature more frequently and fell in love with landscape photography again.

Coming out of the pandemic I continued to document life in Los Angeles and abroad. I paid closer attention to the textures and movements of life in all its beautiful, contradictory forms - both digitally and IRL. Conversations and chance encounters led to inspiring friendships and communities in LA that I'll always hold dear. 

As a visual storyteller, the zine/photo book format became the most accessible way to tangibly share this project with the world.

So in October 2022, I took the plunge and began to assemble a book that could bring my perspective to others. In pairing my personal photography with documented Surreal ephemera, ordinary happenings became infused with wonder, and the persistently uncanny elements of modern life became something worth honoring. 

My hope with this work is that it sparks new conversations, questions, and encourages a renewed compassion for our collective existence. Although everything feels more chaotic by the day, with our attention span stolen and life force squashed by ubiquitous surveillance + state-sanctioned violence + corporate propaganda.... I firmly believe we can and will forge a new path forward.

It starts with uncompromising art, local community, and an open mind.

🪺~🪜~💫~🍃~📡~🌏

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Thank you for reading -- this is still just the beginning! I would love to hear from you about your experience, photos you'd like to share, anything. I'm reachable at jackie@genreless.media and look forward to connecting.