Stories From My Staircase

personal projectdocumentary

Apr 3

Written By Julia Malinowska

Documentary Photo Project: “Stories From My Staircase”, Barcelona by Julia Malinowska

When the Covid-19 pandemic nightmare started, I visited my closest neighbours, willing to help. Every time I met them, I was having my camera with me, I was wearing a mask and a hoodie. I didn’t know if they could recognise me in my new outfit, if they would be able to know that I’m the neighbour from the second floor.

Not long ago, I didn't know the names of the people I passed in the hallway. I didn't know their dreams, desires, fears.

Magic happened while keeping a physical distance ironically it brought us closer together.

We are all in this together and all of us are trying extremely hard to continue with our daily routine and work. We are so focus on ourselves that we forget to ask others how they feel.

We are getting lost in virtual reality, which is more real and vibrant then reality that surrounds us now.

That’s why I would love you to stop for a moment. I would love you to listen to the stories and to feel another person.

Sandra, Kurt and Frida

my neighbours from first floor

Stories From My Staircase, Barcelona Documentary Photographer

Sandra is a painter, Kurt is a graphic designer. They met in Warsaw, where they studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. Sandra and Frida have been dreaming very intensely lately. They started to record their dreams from the quarantine times. Few days ago Frida turned 6. They organised a beautiful birthday party for her and all her friends sent her video wishes.

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Sandra is afraid that what we are experiencing now, our fears and all our thoughts on human relations, the world, the economy, will be forgotten. Once this is over, we will start new routines, a new life, a life after...

She is looking for a way to capture it, one of her ideas is to write down dreams from the lockdown time.

Frida got a guitar as a birthday gift, and I got from her a mask and a beautiful letter.

Sofía and Jessica

my neighbours from ground floor

Sofia is a social educator. She lives with Jessica, her daughter. She worked in quarantine for the first two weeks. Jessica forbade her to leave the house anymore. She's the one who does the shopping, takes out the trash and takes the dog out.

Jessica works in different shifts. Unfortunately sometimes, after the morning shift when she goes shopping, there are no more fresh vegetables in the shop. She says that in the afternoon the shops are empty.

Sofía sews in her free time. She sews masks for her family and friends and anybody that needs one. She sews them from beautiful and colourful fabrics. Masks in Barcelona can no longer be bought anywhere. I got mine from her as a gift.

Sofía had a wonderful garden, with a small arbor and beautiful palm trees. A few months ago, due to a very strong wind in Barcelona, the wall of the neighbouring building collapsed into her patio. The pandemic caught her in the middle of the construction.

Nico, Pol and Julia

my neighbours from upper ground floor

Nico is a physiotherapist. He has a wonderful Chilean accent. Pol lived in Chile for 5 years. He says he traveled a lot for work. Now they both don't work. They spend their time talking and tasting wine on the terrace alternating with workouts. They built a mini gym from water bottles and other everyday gadgets. I envy them the chilled attitude and the break from the overwhelming reality.

Julia moved in 2 weeks before the quarantine. It was our first meeting, a walk in the staircase together, exchange of a few sentences and we took some photos. She works remotly, it seems that she is busier than before the lockdown.

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.
”

— Elliott Erwitt

If you have any questions let me know. And if you are interested in creating some stunning content in Barcelona, in new reality, I would be delighted to talk about your project. Just shoot me an email at: julia@juliamalinowska.com

Or find me on Instagram: @jul.malinowska

lockdownstay at homeCovid-19stories from my staircase

Julia Malinowska