In Quarantine, Unreal Others, Quarantine 2020, Uncertain Situation

In Collections

Creativity in the Time of COVID-19

Copyright Status

In Copyright

Date

2019/2022

Artists

Mahmoudi, Parastoo

Subjects

COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- , in art

Material Type

Mixed media works
Paintings (visual works)

Language

No linguistic content

Extent

4 mixed media art pieces

Genre Note

Mixed media; digital collage, encaustic painting

Exhibit Label

Solitude and loneliness let me confront my needs to socialize, explore, and experiment. During the pandemic, I had time to learn to find fulfillment by myself. Creativity was the best way to explore myself deeply and truly. My works primarily use recycled materials that I previously used in daily life. In "Uncertain Situation," I used COVID-19 posters from the heart of Toronto. This is a dire time we live in, and as an artist I feel responsible for documenting this important history. I collaged COVID-19 posters in some of my pieces to represent the actual feeling of being on the streets at this time. I hope the posters will disappear soon and never come back. "In Quarantine" is a digital collage of my older paintings and the view of the OCAD University building from my apartment window. The OCAD building is disturbingly devoid of artistic activities. Spending days and nights alone led to creating imaginary figures of others. I used light to cast shadows of imaginary figures, representing the presence of mythical others in response to the lack of socialization during the lockdown. "Quarantine 2020" is an encaustic piece that I created in response to the new normal that began in early 2020. This work responds to COVID-19 announcements, cautions, and warnings all over social media and news. Looking at the COVID-19 announcements pasted on store windows makes me remember all that has happened. They remind me of how the pandemic began in the perfection of disbelief and how it shut down jobs, the economy, and people's lives. Witnessing the initial COVID-19 alerts was shocking. It still is shocking. --Label design by exhibit curator Nancy DeJoy. Labels written by Ben Lash and his team in consultation with artist statements.

Permalink

https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5c827g01

Page Info

1 of 4: Unreal Others

2 of 4: Quarantine 2020

3 of 4: In Quarantine

4 of 4: Uncertain Situation