From vibrators to DIY gym weights, people around the world shared photos of the 15 'essentials' they used to cope early in the pandemic

Melissa WileyMay 28, 2021, 03:23 IST

Ethnographer Paula Zuccotti asked people around the world to share photos of the 15 items they considered essential during lockdown.Clockwise from top left: Iara Banchik; Chris Butler; Laura Maggi; Naitiemu Nyanjom. From Paula Zuccotti's "Future Archaeology of a Global Lockdown."

In 2020, ethnographer Paula Zuccotti asked people to share photos of 15 "essential" lockdown items.
She compiled more than 1,000 photos from people in 50 countries into a project called Future Archaeology of a Global Lockdown.
Photos of booze, sex toys, and makeshift weights show how people's habits shifted amid COVID-19.

In April 2020, while stuck at home in London under lockdown, ethnographer Paula Zuccotti found herself relying on new objects around her house, like a kettle ball for exercise and wine for relaxation.

Paula Zuccotti - London, England. Paula Zuccotti

In April 2020, while stuck at home in London under lockdown, ethnographer Paula Zuccotti found herself relying on new objects around her house, like a kettle ball for exercise and wine for relaxation.

Over the year, more than 1,000 people from 50 countries have shared images with Zuccotti, like Laura Maggi, a journalist from Milan, Italy, whose lockdown essentials included chocolate, tea, and daily beauty-care items like sheet masks.

Laura Maggi - Milan, Italy. Laura Maggi / Paula Zuccotti

Over the year, more than 1,000 people from 50 countries have shared images with Zuccotti, like Laura Maggi, a journalist from Milan, Italy, whose lockdown essentials included chocolate, tea, and daily beauty-care items like sheet masks.

Matt Shunshin and his wife relied on gin and a stuffed pig to adapt to their new lives. Shunshin, a London cardiologist, tended to patients in COVID-19 wards, and his wife worked from home with their toddler.

Matt Shunshin - London, England. Matt Shunshin / Paula Zuccotti

Matt Shunshin and his wife relied on gin and a stuffed pig to adapt to their new lives. Shunshin, a London cardiologist, tended to patients in COVID-19 wards, and his wife worked from home with their toddler.

As offices, schools, and event venues closed down, people like Agustina Hassenbruk from Misiones, Argentina, relied on laptops for both work and entertainment.

Agustina Hassenbruk - Misiones, Argentina. Agustina Hassenbruk / Paula Zuccotti

Sharon from Manila, Phillippines, used her laptop for at-home karaoke.

Sharon - Manila, Philippines. Sharon / Paula Zuccotti

Unable to go to the gym, Martín Genero from Santa Fe, Argentina, created a makeshift barbell by attaching six water bottles filled with sand to the ends of a pole.

Martín Genero - Santa Fe, Argentina. Martin Genero / Paula Zuccotti

Unable to go to the gym, Martín Genero from Santa Fe, Argentina, created a makeshift barbell by attaching six water bottles filled with sand to the ends of a pole.

Noticeably absent were objects like lipstick, high heels, and handbags, Zuccotti said. Instead, people like Iara Banchik from Buenos Aires, Argentina, resorted to more comfortable clothes, like socks and slippers.

Iara Banchik, Argentina. Iara Banchik / Paula Zuccotti

Noticeably absent were objects like lipstick, high heels, and handbags, Zuccotti said. Instead, people like Iara Banchik from Buenos Aires, Argentina, resorted to more comfortable clothes, like socks and slippers.

Before the pandemic, Buenos Aires resident Silvana Ovsejevich only wore leggings for exercise, but during lockdown, incorporated them into her daily routine.

Silvana Ovsejevich, Argentina. Silvana Ovsejevich / Paula Zuccotti

People also invested in self-care. Rino Goto from Tokyo, Japan, wrote that she used white sage to cleanse her room and matcha to "maintain a well-balanced mind."

Rina Goto - Tokyo, Japan. Rina Goto / Paula Zuccotti

Maria Belen Morales from Quito, Ecuador, used a shamanic drum and Agua de Florida, a perfume water, for healing rituals.

Maria Belen Morales - Quito, Ecuador. Maria Belen Morales / Paula Zuccotti

Some people picked up new hobbies. Sonia Wang from Taipei, Taiwan, wrote that she borrowed a paintbrush from her mom because she always wanted to paint like her.

Sonia Wang - Taipei, Taiwan. Sonia Wang / Paula Zuccotti

Chris Butler from Portland, Oregon, counted a stand mixer among his essential items and said he and his family spent their time in lockdown baking.

Chris Butler - Portland, Oregon. Chris Butler / Paula Zuccotti

Other photos reflect major events that were happening in a country. For instance, Kevin Katsura from Buenos Aires was one of several Argentinians to include mosquito repellant among their essentials.

Kevin Katsura - Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kevin Katsura / Paula Zuccotti

Other photos reflect major events that were happening in a country. For instance, Kevin Katsura from Buenos Aires was one of several Argentinians to include mosquito repellant among their essentials.

Zuccotti told Insider that overall she was surprised by how honest and vulnerable people were, like Naitiemu Nyanjom from Nairobi, Kenya, who included a pink vibrator among their essentials.

Naitiemu Nyanjom - Nairobi, Kenya. Naitiemu Nyanjom / Paula Zuccotti

Zuccotti told Insider that overall she was surprised by how honest and vulnerable people were, like Naitiemu Nyanjom from Nairobi, Kenya, who included a pink vibrator among their essentials.

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From vibrators to DIY gym weights, people around the world shared photos of the 15 'essentials' they used to cope early in the pandemic

In April 2020, while stuck at home in London under lockdown, ethnographer Paula Zuccotti found herself relying on new objects around her house, like a kettle ball for exercise and wine for relaxation.

Over the year, more than 1,000 people from 50 countries have shared images with Zuccotti, like Laura Maggi, a journalist from Milan, Italy, whose lockdown essentials included chocolate, tea, and daily beauty-care items like sheet masks.

Matt Shunshin and his wife relied on gin and a stuffed pig to adapt to their new lives. Shunshin, a London cardiologist, tended to patients in COVID-19 wards, and his wife worked from home with their toddler.

As offices, schools, and event venues closed down, people like Agustina Hassenbruk from Misiones, Argentina, relied on laptops for both work and entertainment.

Sharon from Manila, Phillippines, used her laptop for at-home karaoke.

Unable to go to the gym, Martín Genero from Santa Fe, Argentina, created a makeshift barbell by attaching six water bottles filled with sand to the ends of a pole.

Noticeably absent were objects like lipstick, high heels, and handbags, Zuccotti said. Instead, people like Iara Banchik from Buenos Aires, Argentina, resorted to more comfortable clothes, like socks and slippers.

Before the pandemic, Buenos Aires resident Silvana Ovsejevich only wore leggings for exercise, but during lockdown, incorporated them into her daily routine.

People also invested in self-care. Rino Goto from Tokyo, Japan, wrote that she used white sage to cleanse her room and matcha to "maintain a well-balanced mind."

Maria Belen Morales from Quito, Ecuador, used a shamanic drum and Agua de Florida, a perfume water, for healing rituals.

Some people picked up new hobbies. Sonia Wang from Taipei, Taiwan, wrote that she borrowed a paintbrush from her mom because she always wanted to paint like her.

Chris Butler from Portland, Oregon, counted a stand mixer among his essential items and said he and his family spent their time in lockdown baking.

Other photos reflect major events that were happening in a country. For instance, Kevin Katsura from Buenos Aires was one of several Argentinians to include mosquito repellant among their essentials.

Zuccotti told Insider that overall she was surprised by how honest and vulnerable people were, like Naitiemu Nyanjom from Nairobi, Kenya, who included a pink vibrator among their essentials.