Three Artists Reflect On How The World Has Changed As a Result of Covid-19
Jilly Ballistic, Duyi Han and TV Boy, profoundly capture and reflect on the new world in wake of an ongoing global health crisis.
Whether itās a heartfelt tribute or a biting commentary, the stirring new works by these artists ā Jilly Ballistic, Duyi Han and TV Boy āprofoundly capture what the world is like in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. With that, we present to you their thoughts on the current global situation, their life as an artist and more in this exclusive interview.
Three Artists Reflect On How The World Has Changed As a Result of Covid-19
If youāve ever lived the life of aĀ New York CityĀ straphanger, chances are youāve already stumbled upon some of Jilly Ballisticās eerieĀ historical images of World War II soldiers and civilians in gas masks.
The subway artist describes these black-and-white wheatpaste figures asĀ āmodern protest workāĀ as sheās of the opinion that words and images are the two best mediums to reflect what is currently happening in the society.
Tell me about the artwork that youāve been doing.
It changes day to day as the situation with the pandemic changes. Iād comment on things like the absurdity of reopening the country while death toll continues to rise or Iād use a historical image that reflects our current situation; this is to show how little has changed for us. Weāre repeating the same mistakes.
How are things going?
New York City has become a completely different world. Subways are mostly empty and the streets are bare. It certainly doesnāt have the energy it is known for having. Itās somber, with the occasional glimmer of hope.
What do you think about the handling of this pandemic and its effect on the people?
The State of New York is doing its best to handle the pandemic without any Federal help. Individual states are left to fend for themselves, which is leading to more suffering, confusion and instability. We arenāt unified as a country and thatās going to take a toll on our citizens. Art will reflect this and art around the globe will record what is happening for the history books.
What does your daily routine entail now?
Iām entering my second month of quarantine, which entails me living alone and producing artwork that I apply to walls on the street or within the subway system. I do have a full-time job that Iām able to work remotely from; I try to find a good balance between these two areas of my life. It keeps me going.
The recent outbreak is devastating on a worldwide scale but it hits especially close to home for Duyi Han. Making headlines for his mural at a historic church inĀ Chinaās HubeiĀ province, Duyiās journey to the region where the virus originated is deeply personal as itās also where his grandparents reside.
The Doesnāt Come Out creative director was travelling back and forth betweenĀ New York and Los AngelesĀ for work when China was first swept by the pandemic.
How are your grandparents holding up?
They are doing fine. I was worried about them when the outbreak was severe earlier in the year. People in the city were very nervous during the crisis. But basic food and supplies were available at their door, at least in the neighborhood my grandparents live in. So they were able to stay home without much difficulty.
Tell me about the mural. Was selecting a church a conscious choice on your part?
I was already aware of the local architecture although my collaborators and I were still deciding on the final location. We figured that we might use either the church thatās no longer in use today and not a registered heritage building, or an interior space thatās separate from the church.
Where are you self-isolating at?
I am now in Shanghai and free to move around in China after my 14-day hotel quarantine. Having travelled to China from the United States, I witnessed directly the shocking difference in the level of precautionary and safety measures between the two countries.
How has the lockdown affected you personally and the people around you?
Itās just that I have to adjust my short-term and long-term life plans accordingly. There are lots of phone and video calls. Lots of recipe sharing. But on the bright side, I have plenty of ideas for future artworks. The situation is getting better in China, so I hope the world will recover soon too.
Italian artist TV BoyĀ believes that art should mirror the times that weāre living in. So when he heard about a spike in coronavirus cases inĀ Barcelona, a city where heās based in since 2004, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
Through his artwork, TV Boy captured the severity of the circumstances with a touch of triviality that casts the world in a more positive light.Ā Love in theĀ Time of Coronavirus, for example, is a bittersweet note on how love can survive the pandemic.
At what point did the gravity of the situation hit you?
It started with the cancellation of the Mobile World Congress. The virus was supposedly still contained in China, but the decision to call off the fair prompted me to come up withĀ MobileĀ World VirusĀ featuring the Mona Lisa. It made me think about how technology could be both of help and a kind of virus in itself too.
Tell me about some of the famous references in your artworks.
I just bring it back to reality. I reimagined the Uncle Sam poster with āI Want Youā slogan because I want people to stay home. I also use the phrase āunited we stand, divided we fallā in reverse because I want people to avoid close contact with strangers to protect themselves as well as the frontliners.
Which of your artworks are you most proud of?
The first one is always the best. So for that, I thinkĀ Mobile World VirusĀ with the Mona Lisa with a mask and smartphone would beĀ a solid pick. But I also likeĀ Love in the Time of CoronavirusĀ thatāsĀ inspired by a Francesco Hayez piece of work because it is bothĀ poetic and romantic.
What is it like being a street artist when thereās no one on the street?
Street art can also be found on digital platforms because whatever it is on the wall could realistically be erased. So, the Internet and online channels like Instagram give us artists the platform to share our work. It is a way of allowing the artwork to live a little longer.
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This article was written by Nikita Nawawi for LāOfficiel Malaysia.