I would be lying if I said that, despite having learnt to deal with uncertainty through my life experiences, I am doing well. I try, and most days succeed, to control my emotions when facing my own or my loved ones’ experiences of isolation, and health or financial misfortunes, but the prolonged state of pandemic-related insecurity is so extraordinary that there is no way to escape the fact that we are stuck in a reality that is testing us in an unprecedented way. The virus continues to disseminate, bringing direct or collateral disarray and misery into our families, communities, both local and globally -- and every day it seems to be closer to home…
Thus, we often surrender to this merciless reality we are living in, that continues to take lives and spread the virus and fear, and we lose our focus and hope. We pray even if we do not know how to, trying to negotiate with fate that our sick ones can overcome this horrible disease and come out as true survivors of this bad dream that does not disappear.
I also feel blessed every day; to wake up healthy and be able to enjoy the privilege of philosophical pondering, such as reflecting on the role of us, as artists, during such a crisis, and whether or not our work is relevant under these circumstances. Can Art be a healer?
This week, the “Pandemic Lens” magazine published my article; Invisible Spreading: Virus and Art, where you can read my thoughts on the relevance of art during the COVID-19 pandemic and about how I produced a series of oil paintings inspired by the crisis. Check it out at: https://pandemiclens.com/2020/08/31/invisible-spreading-virus-and-art/
Image: “Quarantine island”, oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches, available for purchase. If you are interested in this or other paintings, please contact me here.