Frontline Faces of COVID-19: Digital Pandemic Portraits

Abstract

ABSTRACT:This article describes the author’s process of meaning-making in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, through a project that creates digital portraits of frontline workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). The goal of the project has been to help transform public perception of PPE from something scary into something that allows the humanity of the workers to shine through. The project seeks to publicly honour the sacrifices of frontliners by creating art that makes them feel beautiful, loved, supported, appreciated, and inspired. By creating the portraits free of charge, actively pursuing diversity of portrait subjects, and sharing the images on social media, the author has aspired to nurture digital justice, equity of representation, and community engagement. The project can be viewed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Frontline-FACES-of-Covid-19-101410431520873/), on Instagram @frontline_faces_of_covid19, or in the COVID-19 Gratitude and Hope Collection of the Art Gallery at https://www.teachingmedicine.com/.