Coronavirus Through the Eyes of a Beijing Dad and Artist

Mark Karanja Jingkids

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It is said that turmoil fuels creativity, a fact often attested to by renowned artists the world over who have turned some of humanity’s most horrific tragedies into majestic pieces of art. It was no different in 2003 when China and the rest of the world were forced to grapple with the SARS outbreak which brought life as people knew it to a complete standstill. But it also served to shape the art world in Beijing, and in turn the discourse around the SARS outbreak, with such notable exhibitions as ‘Blue Sky Exposure’ by artist Huan Rei, which featured a stirring depiction of massive lungs made from hemp, 180 flying face masks, and condoms cut out of origami. Another notable example of the time was a photography series by Gao Feng, who showed himself wearing a mask the size of a duvet. At the moment, with the Coronavirus outbreak, it would appear that Beijing is again gripped in the throes of an uncertain future. But this has only served as fuel for a new generation of Beijing artists. Jacopo Della Ragione is one such artist. Based in Beijing, he is one of the artists currently charged with the monumental task of capturing in paint, the truth about a city waiting out what has been described as a global pandemic.

What has been your own personal experience with the coronavirus outbreak with your family?

I could say we had a hipster approach to the whole situation: on January 23 Sirio (潘启锋), my son, came back from a winter camp with H1N1. Luckily we went to the hospital the next day where they identified it immediately, then sent us home with medicines and with the recommendation to quarantine ourselves for at least seven days.

During those days the lock-down of our compound started, so we had to ask the Management to help us retrieve the parcels being dropped off at the main gate. I’m glad to say that they were really understanding and helpful.

Now we’re still half quarantined, mostly because there aren’t really many places to go, but my wife has started going back to the office taking turns with her colleagues, which I would say is quite an organized way to never have people from different groups to meet.

How has this current medical crisis affected your art? Has it affected the quality or the quantity of your work or even the subject matter?

I work at home, so I was expecting to boost my productivity quite a lot, but I realized that I’m used to being home alone and now I’m not. On one hand there are chores, usually taken care of by our Ayi – who is still in her hometown – and on the other hand, it is much more difficult to concentrate. So, I’m producing more or less the same.

Since how I paint is very instinctual, it is constantly affected by the situation that surrounds me, so even if I wanted it would be impossible to not let the current crisis affect my work; but I don’t actively look for it. It will be interesting, once the crisis is over to see how my work will change again, and then look back at everything I’ve produced during this period to look for patterns.

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What do you feel is the importance of art, especially in this time of the Coronavirus?

Art is part of humanity, its importance changes during different steps of our development as individuals. I have been involved in children’s education through art and art therapy in the past few years, and through that I understand the importance of it not being taken for granted in our daily lives.

Unfortunately, especially visual arts have been taken away from the “normality” of our daily lives; I think it’s a huge loss, so with my work and few art related projects, through conscious curating and creating, I am attempting to re-establish that inextricable link between the normal and the artistic, especially now when beauty is needed the most.

What do you plan to be the future of your art and where can Beijingers enjoy your art?

Probably you should ask what my art is planning for my future.

My plan is to keep creating works and seizing any opportunity to challenge myself and my creations, but also to bring as many people as possible to discover or rediscover their relationship with visual arts.

I’m always happy to show my works, although every time it feels like being naked in front of a crowd. At the moment I’m not represented by anyone, but there’s a personal exhibition going on at JoyBeans Space (15, Longtoujing Street (龙头井街15号); it’s supposed to last until Feb 16, but we’re talking about extending it at least for another month. They also make coffee there, and it isn’t half bad!

Photos: Courtesy of Della Ragione

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