The Social Ills Prevalent

The Social Ills Prevalent is a photographic series I created during the early months of the COVID-19 lockdown in Norway. While hospitals were under extreme pressure, most people at home dealt with isolation, fear, and boredom rather than the virus itself.

Working in my home studio, I started using everyday household items to represent what was happening around me. I made soap and hand sanitiser look like desserts, turned an orange into a virus, and used a matchbox to show a small home. Items like toilet paper, gloves, and masks suddenly felt important for survival and control.

These photographs are not just about the pandemic itself, but about what emerged in the quiet moments: the urge to hoard, to protect, and to find comfort in familiar things. Made in isolation, the images show a common feeling of unease, using ordinary objects from daily life.

Thanks to Eva M, Susanne R, Frida R, Zuzz W, Asia RB, Adrian B, Ole JF and JD for their support and inspiration during the production of this project.

This series was initially shown in an online 3d gallery. Now, you can enjoy the images in a grid gallery below instead.