Covid-19 & Racism

Artist Statement

In the time of Covid. This time period is a mixed bag and affected everyone differently. There was confusion, pain, loneliness, reluctance, fear, panic, kindness, appreciation, denial, tiredness, mourning, defiance, terror, attacks, racism against the Chinese, hate, rhetoric, distinction between wealthy and less wealthy nations, and an unwillingness to share how to create life saving formulas by the large pharmaceutical companies.

In my little part of the world, I worried that my elderly parents and brother would contract the coronavirus since they are considered high risk. I worried for myself and my partner as well. People at first were more willing to be kind. Through the conservative political side, the virus was downplayed. Like everywhere else in the country and in the world, we had stay-at-home orders. Some restaurants in my county refused to close and continued to serve people, with people continuing to patron those establishments. My county was one of the two very last to have the stay-at-home order lifted. During that time, I ended up becoming more of a hermit, not wanting to go out and lost even more of my trust in people.

Prior to Covid, I enjoyed going out mushroom foraging and going into the woods for photography. But, once the then President's rhetoric on China started broadcasting, people became more hateful, fearful, prejudiced, and racist against the Chinese regardless of citizenship. On the news, I saw verbal and physical attacks against Chinese communities and individuals. I was even less inclined to go out. Living in Pennsyltucky, what I call Trumplandia, I wasn't sure if I wasn't going to get attacked for my ethnicity. I worried that my family would be attacked when they went out. I didn't know how far people would go to terrorize us. I still don't know. I'm still wary.

I never planned on creating art about this time period in history. I supposed, as an artist, I needed to reflect and process the state of affairs and my own feelings and reactions. The resulting images comment on either my state-of-mind or how things were.

In a forest setting in winter, brown leaves are on the ground. A Chinese woman with a brown basket on the ground waves with her left hand and the right hand in her green jacket pocket. She is wearing brown pants and hiking boots. She stands next to a large tree that divides to two trunks partway up. Another version of the woman is seen wearing a blue mask peeking around the trunk of the tree.

Two Fold

This image shows the way I used to react to people when we come across each other. Now, I hide and wear a mask. I'm worried about getting Covid-19 anywhere there are people, and I fear that I will be attacked because of my ethnicity, even for something innocuous as mushroom foraging.

Progression

The protective level of masks needed increased as the pandemic wears on.

A dark wood background with light colored wooden lettered tiles, off white plastic lettered and numbered game pieces, and a red 9 of diamonds playing card. Covid-19 is spelled out with lettered and numbered game pieces and a red 9 of diamonds playing card. The tiles and game pieces spell out words horizontally and vertically like in a Scrabble game. Words spelled out are lab, China, Chinese, Blame, and Market.

The Blame Game

In trying to figure out the origin of Covid-19, the blame kept coming back to China in various theories but there was no definitive conclusion. This ended in increased hatred for China and Chinese people.

A triptych fine art photograph showing a middle aged Chinese woman with mid-length black hair wearing a white peasant top. In the first image, she is wearing glasses and looking into the camera. In the second photo, a large red target is placed over her face. The third image shows her with a defined shadow behind her and without her glasses or red target from the previous image. However, a green laser target from a weapon is aimed at her forehead.

Target

As the origins of Covid-19 were investigated and China was seen as the enemy, the Chinese people and Asian Americans were being targeted in hate crimes across the country. I feel like I have a target on me every time I'm outside in the world.

Covid-19 & Racism

Artist Statement

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