30 Days Before the Pandemic

Size: varied by editions, around 4’’x 7’’

Methods: handwritten, objects glued or clipped on already-made notebooks

Materials: already-made notebooks, newspaper, perfume card, receipt, rubber gloves, clip

Edition: 4

30 Days Before the Pandemic is a fictional diary of a 22-year-old Chinese man who just graduated from the collage and documented his everyday experience during the first month of 2020. It starts from his struggle in daily life, includes his obsession of a girl, and finally develops into a possible crime when the pandemic brings him chances. The four books are made from four old notebooks which were widely used during that rough era in China. There is also many small objects both real newspaper dated back to January, 2020, and fake materials like receipts, photos. The whole story can only be completed by reading the four editions together, because each of them contains part of the diary and objects. The diary is written in Chinese and viewers are welcomed to scan the QR code on the last page of each book for translation of English.