The Border on the Blanket

Spring 2020: For the first time since the 2nd World War, Switzerland has closed all its borders. In recent decades they have hardly been noticed by the population, they were invisible lines, which were freely crossed by the inhabitants of both sides. The Covid 19 pandemic caused the authorities to raise obstacles again, barrier tapes signal the limitation of the accessible area and draw the old border lines which were reinforced with barbed wire during the 2nd world war. For us Europeans accustomed to freedom, they are a clear disturbance of the normal habit. The fences between Switzerland and Germany, in both countries the people can still move freely, are now a meeting place for those people who were geographically separated: Lovers, friends and families. They press against the bars to talk to each other, to drink a beer and have a smoke together or, where possible, spread a carpet under the barrier tapes to exchange caresses. Love cannot be locked away.