Artists rarely react to the events of today, many even consider it a mover to spend time on the moment instead of the eternal. However, the events of recent months have become too significant for the whole world to be ignored even by those who self-isolate in the workshop without any epidemics. The USA Art News has listened to the art-echo of coronavirus.
Perhaps the most famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei started shooting a documentary film about the epidemic in his country in January, and at the same time working on the production of Puccini’s opera Turandot in Rome. In the midst of rehearsals coronavirus came to Italy and Wavey, he said, reworked the third act, reflecting the threat to the world. On his Instagram, the artist published a photo showing the scenography: white lines depicting the contours of continents on the floor. It turns out that the characters symbolize all of humanity.
One of the first countries after China, seriously affected by the coronavirus, was Iran. And the artists reacted quite quickly. 3D artist Hamid Ebrahimnia in early March published video art, depicting two helicopters fighting with the wind, pulling a medical mask on the highest building in Iran – the Tower of Milad in Tehran. The animation, imitating the shooting from the drone, looks very realistic.
Sitting in self-isolation in his home in Normandy, David Hockney tries not to lose optimism. The 82-year-old artist, whose works broke auction records some time ago, is engaged in drawing on iPad. He sent a digital work entitled “Remember: they can’t cancel spring” to the Danish Museum of Modern Art “Louisiana”, which published it on its Instagram.
Health care workers fight against COVID-19 every day. Doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff know they can be infected, but continue to help those affected. To support the British Health Service (NHS), artist Damien Hirst created a rainbow of butterfly wings and dedicated it to British doctors. He invited people to download an image from his website and display it in their home windows. Hearst also plans to release a limited series of works with the rainbow, the funds from the sale of which will be transferred to the NHS to fight the coronavirus.
Hearst is the same artist who sold the shark in formalin for $12 million. And butterflies are one of his favorite motifs: for the artist, they symbolize death and resurrection at the same time.
American street art artist Shepherd Fairy, known for his poster in support of Barack Obama’s campaign, the brand Obey and stickers with the image of Giant Andre, decided to thank the doctors. He called the new work “Compassion and Glory”, where he depicted a nurse in his recognizable graphic style.
“I am inspired to honor those who do not seek glory, but rather serve humanity when it is in great difficulty. I want this portrait to radiate the comforting warmth and sympathy that the nurses provide in the midst of anxiety and crisis.
Shepherd Fairy
Artist
Together with Adobe, Fairy launched the Honor Heroes art project and invited other artists and illustrators to create paintings with people from different professions who continue to work and risk their lives during the pandemic.
In early April, WHO reported that more than one hundred different COVID-19 vaccines are currently under development. Several of them are already being tested on humans. On this occasion, Italian artist Dario Gambarin depicted two molecules with the words “vaccine” and “coronavirus” right in the field.
“This work is dedicated to research and all researchers who are looking for a vaccine”.
Dario Gambarine
Artist
Art object size of 90/230 meters in the style of land art appeared on the site, which belongs to the artist’s family. When creating his works, Gambarine uses a tractor. He calls such works ecological and ephemeral: according to the natural cycle, they disappear in 7-10 days.
To support the people sitting in quarantine, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama wrote a poem about the coronavirus and asked the virus to disappear from the face of the earth. She called on everyone to unite for the sake of love and peace to cope with the difficulties and survive these difficult times.
“For people all over the world, it is time to rise up. I express my deep gratitude to all those who are already fighting”.
Yayi Kusama
Artist
Kusama is one of the most expensive artists of our time. She is known as the author of works with dots, which symbolize the infinity of the universe.
Russian artist Anastasia Alyokhina, having found herself in isolation, creates sculptures of bread crumbs and mold and wants to rethink the present, where people are during the pandemic.
“We are all prisoners, limited in our freedom… We are beginning to adapt according to traditional schemes of experiencing crisis reality… In the new reality, bread has become almost the only available material for me to create sculptures. And I turn to the prison tradition of molding from bread crumbs.
Anastasia Alekhina
Artist
For the artist, the crown of bread and mold is a symbol of crisis, decline of power and loss of trust in the government and social and political structure of the state. Alekhina also wants to support medical personnel in the regions, who, in her opinion, are often not provided with food, do not receive the necessary protection and work in harsh conditions. Alyokhin’s plans include a charity event: she will sell handmade brooches in the form of bread and mold crowns, and send half of the proceeds to doctors.
A couple of artists from Los Angeles, Juan Delcan and Valentina Izagirr spoke about the need to stay at home and keep the distance to stop the virus from spreading. The husband and wife made a short animated video on the iPhone with a number of matches representing healthy people. When they are close to each other, they ignite.
“We want people to be aware of the importance of what is happening. The virus is spreading very fast. Do your part and stay at home”.
Juan Delcan
Artist
Spouses create rollers with matches in the form of men about a year. Now the heroes of their video also sit in isolation in their boxes, chatting in Zoom or sad alone.
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