Collective Isolation in Latin America

Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 through Photography

Photo credit: (Detail of) José Falconi, from “THE SCATTERED SHELTER” series, Los Angeles 2010

Curatorial View

The exhibition Documenting the Impact of Covid-19 through Photography: Collective Isolation in Latin America aims to create a critical visual record of our unprecedented times. 2020 will be remembered as a watershed year in which a pandemic laid bare the inequalities and fissures within our society. It has also underscored the importance of living and participating in communities even while experiencing the pandemic in isolation. This exhibition contributes to the documentation of these breathtaking times so they can be remembered by future generations. In addition, through this curated selection of photography from Latin America and the Caribbean, the exhibition seeks to promote a regional perspective of the collective isolation imposed by Covid-19.

The exhibition curated in collaboration with ReVista and the Art, Culture, and Film program at Harvard David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) is based on an Open Call for Photography launched in July 2020. A jury of five Harvard-affiliated scholars, curators and artists (*) reviewed all submissions and selected three winning prizes that are presented at the top of our Photo Gallery. The rest of the DRCLAS-selected submissions are listed in alphabetical order. To view titles and larger-size images click on each photograph to access the pop-up gallery view.

June Carolyn Erlick. Editor-in-Chief, ReVista, the Harvard Review of Latin America
Marcela V. Ramos. Art, Film, and Culture Program Manager for Cambridge and Overseas Offices.

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(*) Makeda Best, Richard L. Menschel Curator of Photography at the Harvard Art Museums | Pablo Corral Vega, Photojournalist, 2011 Harvard Nieman Fellow | Alfredo Jaar, Artist, Associate at the Harvard GSD Art and the Public Domain Program | João Kulcsar, Photographer, 2002-03 Fulbright Scholar, Harvard Graduate School of Education | Susan Meiselas, Photographer, 2018-19 Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow and 2011 Harvard Art Medal recipient.

Photo Gallery

First Place: Rodrigo Abd
Perú, Lima

7 Images | Visit Photographer’s Instagram and Website

three people carrying a dead body in a desert

women with a baby and cat eating from plate

Women standing in the desert with a blue cross

Second Place: Miguel Tovar
México, Ciudad de México

1 Image | Visit Photographer’s Website and Instagram

Third Place (Tie): Yan Boechat
Brazil, Manaus

1 Image | Visit Photographer’s Instagram and Website

Third Place (Tie): Gui Christ
Brazil, São Paulo

7 Images | Visit Photographer’s Instagram and Website

Luis Acosta Castro
Panamá, Panama City

3 Images | Visit Photographer’s Instagram

A nurse takes care of a patient infected with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit

cruise ship Zaandam are seen as the ship navigates through the Panama Canal in Panama City

cellist Karina Nunez playing on the balcony of her apartment in Panama City

Marisa Arce Zencich
Argentina, Córdoba

6 Images | Visit Photographer’s Instagram

Juan Carlos
El Salvador, San Salvador

7 Images | Visit Photographer’s website

Women make line and practice social distancing in order to enter the marketplace to do their grocery shopping.

Joel Altamirano spraying a disinfectant to eliminate the COVID19 virus from surfaces

Catholic faithfuls pray and greet the priest who is weaing a mask while carrying the monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory) around town, guest Due to the ongoing Corona virus (COVID19) pandemic quarantine the Catholic Church will not be able to hold their traditional Holy Week (Easter) processions.

A person feeds the pigeons at Plaza Gerardo Barrios (square) during the COVID pandemic quarantine in the historic downtown San Salvador.

$People waiting for a public transportation bus, this bus stop is usually very busy with people waiting during rush hour but not the case due to the COVID-19 quarantine. President Nayib Bukele has declared national emergency, announcing a quarantine due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic asking people to stay home and only go out if necessary to prevent being infracted by the virus.$

$Military checkpoint making sure that only authorized persons are out from their home and only one passenger per vehicle during the Corona Virus (COVID-19) quarantine. President Nayib Bukele has declared national emergency, announcing a quarantine due to the pandemic, asking people to stay home and only go out if necessary to prevent being infracted by the virus.$