Untitled #1 - Vickie Escarpita

UNTITLED #1 Vickie Escarpita

One never expects to encounter silence and tranquility at the cinema, especially in the middle of the summer. On a typical summer evening the cinema would be filled with the sounds of popping popcorn and excited patrons. This summer was different. The theatre stood there, alone, a silent reminder of the virus that caused its temporary abandonment. It was as haunting as it was beautiful. The frames which once held an array of movie posters now hung empty. The inside consumed by darkness. The outside illuminated by its many bulbs. In times of desperation I would wind up here, seeking comfort in its stillness. The theatre served as a reminder, a reminder that at any moment all we hold dear could close its doors. A reminder that despite the madness, the lights continue to shine. Illuminating passerby’s with a sense of hope. A hope that those doors would open soon accompanied by a new normal.