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Art and COVID
We are not mind-readers but we do know a thing or two about what’s been going on in your head. It’s the virus, isn’t it? It’s gotten to our heads before it can get to our lungs!
It’s everywhere, the virus. In the remotest corners of our minds. But if you’re an artist at heart, you know that now is as good a time as any to be creative, draw inspiration from the seemingly dark times that loom over us, and spread a little joy. The virus is everywhere – on the news, on social media, on our WhatsApp groups, in our minds, in our homes. But you know what else is everywhere? Art.
Also see: The different types of street at you should definitely know about | | Art movements that changed how we see the world
For this article, The Artment took a peek at how artists, creative agencies, writers and creators are interpreting our ongoing crisis and sprouting beauty at this bleak hour.
About coronavirus – spread, symptoms and solutions
The novel coronavirus first originated in the city of Wuhan, in China. In a matter of a few months, the virus spread through countries like Italy, Korea, The United States of America, India, Japan and Hong Kong – Italy and China being the most severely affected of them all.
The World Health Organization has officially termed the outbreak a pandemic – the highest level of public health crises. The virus transmits and spreads rapidly and effectively. The relative ease of transmission causes symptoms such as tightness in lungs, a dry cough and difficulty in breathing.
India has officially declared a 21-day national lockdown to curb the acceleration of the pandemic. Other measures like shutting down domestic flights, social distancing-related awareness and supplying health care institutions with necessary equipment are being put in place. According to experts, the only way to battle the outbreak is to stay at home, practice social distancing and maintain high levels of personal hygiene.
Art in the time of coronavirus
Staying at home and social distancing is difficult. But even while abiding by the rules, these artists and creators have been able to innovate and show us a ray of light, beauty and hope.
Quarantine art on Instagram
In fact, people everywhere have put on their artist hats. Everybody’s an artist in isolation. People have taken social media by storm with their own from-home creations. Check out this Instagram account that is posting recreations of classic paintings right from Van Gogh’s The Scream to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man that features a very cute baby.
British artist Gareth Fuller’s Quarantine Maps
What can a map artist do when asked to quarantine for 14 days? Gareth Fuller takes extensive walks around interesting cities to find inspiration and map them. But since he couldn’t do any of that, he made maps of his home instead!
Fuller’s home maps show how his perception of his home changed over the quarantine days. They are light-hearted and help us take the world a little less seriously.
Street artists against corona
Street art is not far behind either. Although street art largely depends on being outside, these artists have managed to leave a little bit of their work on the walls for everyone to see and enjoy.
Image courtesy and Art by: the_hula via Instagram
Sean Yoro who goes by the moniker Hula painted a coronavirus cell at a construction site in place of a wrecking ball – an illustration of how “COVID-19 is wrecking everything”.
Hijackart (moniker) created a mural of soldiers fighting with tissue paper, masks and hand sanitizer which are indeed the objects that define our time.
Meanwhile, in our very own India, sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik created a sand sculpture in Odisha in support of China, a nation that was reeling under the pressures of the virus at the time.
Artists respond from China
China has taken a massive hit due to the coronavirus. As of March 25, over 3000 people have died from the disease. Yet, artists pave the way for solidarity, compassion and hope.
Artist Duyi Han painted the insides of a chapel specially allocated to bury the tireless hard workers from the healthcare industry who laid down their lives treating others with the disease.
We hope to see more and more creativity sprout from this scary time. As we recover from this pandemic, the art we create will go back to being larger-than-life, nature-inspired and global in its perspective. But for now, let it be a reflection of our state as a community. Let it be a product of the times. These artists are only a few from a long line to come. Here’s hoping we can create and share more beauty, and soon!
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