Playfulness and the Pandemic
BY FARIDA RADY
The word play is derived from the Middle Dutch word pleyen — to rejoice, or be glad. As pandemic regulations began to loosen in Toronto in late May, I was curious to see how residents, who were longing for normalcy and connection, would interact with public stages of play — basketball courts, parks, and beaches, for example.
Every spring, as Toronto emerges from a long and cold winter, the eagerness for warmth is almost tangible. The pandemic only added to that eagerness. Play is the opposite of the isolation and restriction that we lived in during the early days of the pandemic. Play is unrestricted, joyful, intuitive, oftentimes collective, and a universal impulse we are all drawn to. I believe play in the city is a right, and as I observed playfulness this summer, I thought about how the pandemic exposed systems of injustice and violence in the city, as it affected racialized and minoritized groups disproportionately. Witnessing playfulness in the city is a stark contrast to the rigidity, lack of agency, and alienation of the pandemic. It is a reminder that if we fight for it, our cities will emerge out of this pandemic more just, resilient, and playful.
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East Lynn Park shot on Kodak Gold 200
These children’s laughter and play was the most prominent sound amongst a cacophony of many sounds at the park. I loved how they were all in motion, chasing each other and the bubbles they were making.
Ontario Place shot on Fujifilm Superia 400
I walk by these basketball courts often, and the basketball hoops are never adjusted to children’s height. This was the first time I had seen the hoops be suitable for children to play, and it reminded me of how most of our cities are not designed to be child-friendly in terms of playfulness and safety.
Trillium Park on Fujifilm Superia 400
This scene reminded me of the adventurous feeling that comes with being a child — when it feels like every day, there's newness and excitement, even in things that may seem mundane to adults.
Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre shot on Kodak Gold 200
I have taken countless photographs of this basketball court — it's the space that initially sparked my interest in shooting a series like this. This space is used by many people in different ways. Sometimes it's empty, other times it hosts a parent teaching their child how to shoot hoops, other times yet it hosts a full-on basketball game, with spectators cheering on the sidelines.
West Island, shot on Fujifilm Superia 400
I enjoy how vast everything in this scene is — the sky, the lake, the boardwalk, and how the people look tiny in comparison to the space surrounding them.
Stanley Park on Kodak Gold 200
When I first began shooting for this project, I was focused on the spectatorship of public sport. The theme of the project changed direction, but this photo is a nod to the earlier thematic inspiration of the project. I enjoy the physical distance between the spectators in contrast to the physical closeness of the players on the court.
Hanlan's Point shot on Ilford HP5
I wanted to capture this moment of curiosity, a curiosity so strong that it pulled this child away from their friends and towards the fence that overlooks the lake.
Lake Ontario shot on Ilford HP5
On this particular visit to the beach, birds were flying right above the water in a strange and surreal way. I had never seen so many birds — over a hundred — fly directly above the water in a straight line. This family was enjoying a mid-summer swim, and it reminded me of my childhood summers, which I spent splashing in the Mediterranean Sea.
Toronto Island Ferry shot on Ilford HP5
This photo was taken on the way back from a long day spent on the Toronto Islands. The children on the ferry were in many different states: exhausted, rowdy, and curious... It is always disorienting to see children in masks, it feels like a bit of their innocence has been taken away. This child was excitedly showing their sibling the reflections in the water, and it made me smile to see that children’s curiosity persists throughout these strange times.
Farida Rady (@farida.archives) is an Egypt-born, UAE-raised, and Toronto-based writer and multi-disciplinary artist, focused primarily on film photography. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Environmental Studies in Urban Planning at York University. Farida’s interests include climate justice, social movements, and the geopolitics of climate change. She explores these interests in academic and creative ways and is always seeking new avenues of expression for herself and others.