Xingrong Qiao

More or less, it hits the “pause” button on our lives, whether it’s the empty shops around the corner or the computer glitches at home.

During the pandemic, long-period self-isolation offered me a great deal of time confronting myself in an enclosed space, which left me no choice but to wholly focus on myself and my life experiences.

I spent plenty of time reading, while experimenting new pieces in my study, since I’d decided to apply for the MA programme. And now, I’m admitted to St.Joost, so I’m very excited to go to Europe for the first time in August.

SafeTravelUSA is a collection of hundreds of images captured from https://www.safetravelusa.com/ during June to October 2020. Other than traffic enforcement cameras, live traffic cameras are installed to inform people of road conditions.

Looking through these cameras, I came across a number of unusual traffic surveillance images. Some were full of glitches and distortions, or just words like “IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE”. Others were aiming at utility poles, lighted houses, trees, sun, and even mountains. By selecting and arranging, I utilize these poor and disregarded images to fulfil a (virtual) journey across America.