PPE Pandemic & Conflict Portraits

Sarah Cusack

2024 — Australia

About this series

Digital Photograms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn by Australian frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic. And worn by healthcare/aid workers in recent conflict zones.  
Violence against workers or obstruction of healthcare reported in conflict zones reached record high. Detailing arrests, kidnappings, killing of workers and damage to or destruction of health facilities.
PPE provides protection from infectious particles but not from these dangers & varying psycho-emotional states suffered over time from adrenaline, trauma and burnout during the pandemic. 
Its diaphanousness with light allows a photographic inverse seen with the dark room technique of creating photograms. Using a digital process here also allows an inverse of colour and luminosity while maintaining a likeness to medical imaging.

Photographer: Sarah Cusack
Nationality: Australian
Based in: Melbourne, Australia
Website: www.sarahcusack.com
Instagram: @scistudio

Sarah Cusack is a photographer based in Melbourne Australia. With an interest in intersections between clinical and fine art with alternative imaging elements. Producing strong images of the internal and external worlds. Illuminating recent events and conditions to connect with others. Their work has been exhibited in Melbourne and Sydney such as the Museum of Australian Photography. Winning awards such as Australian Runner Up in the Head On Photo Festival Exposure Awards. And awards internationally such as Silver in the Budapest International Foto Awards, Gold in 1839 Colour Photography Awards and Juror’s Pick in LensCulture Fine Art Awards.