The shapes bends and twirls form a meditative shape and accentuates the blue negative spaces. It reminds us of our own lives during the lockdown, and how we are separated by silence. The blue space resonates as we long to be together again.
THE ARTIST:
I Gusti Made Wisatawan, S.Sn/ Indonesia
Gusti is a legend in Indonesia. His art is meditative, appealing and evocative. His life, his childhood and his memories are reflected in his unique art.
The image of the visitor is also multi-layered. The image can be viewed from different aspects. In a first reading, one is looking at a vintage image of a helm-diver who, after his underwater venture, is investigating a creature he brought back from the deep sea. The beast is undefined, has too many legs and looks menacing. The bystanders look like scientists in white lab coats waiting their turn to dissect the organism. It seems like an image from Harper’s Weekly an American magazine that was hugely popular at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in a world about to ignite.
THE ARTIST
Peter Bosteels/ Belgium
Professor Peter Bosteels is Head of Program Fine Arts and Senior Lecturer Printmaking at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium. For more then twenty-five years he’s been giving courses relief printing, digital media and artist book design. His field of expertise is wood engraving. For over Thirty years he practices wood engraving and is considered a master engraver.
The artist reminisces the sweetness of spring cherries in her native Ukraine. The abnormally cold spring in Ukraine this year has resulted in a decline in the number and sweetness of cherry harvests. The artist has thus translated the shape of the virus into the pleasing sweetness of cherries of a glorious spring.
THE ARTIST
Nadiia Doicheva/ Ukraine
Nadiia is an extremely talented artist with a huge fan-following across the world. She renders beautiful and thoughtful art through her amazing skills and inner eye.
When the human world is shrouded in masks and restrictions during the pandemic, nature is free and bountiful. The artist has tried to reach out to nature and feel its soothing presence in our lives.
THE ARTIST
Geracho Arias/ Ecuador
Geracho is an artist who has lived a life in his own terms, among nature and among serenity. The true voice of nature resounds in his art.
Conscience of India voices the painful stories of horrific violence against women India. Everytime an upleasant case of rape or molestation takes place the conscience of India also goes up in flames as the victims body gets cremated.
THE ARTIST
Soumita Saha/ India
The artist has completed bachelor's degree in Architecture from Delhi University. She is currently working as an Architect. She works as a playback singer and composer. She has completed diploma in Art and practicing as an artist for more that four years
As the world shudders under the wrath of climate change and pollution, fragmentation in the society rears its head even in nature. It is a form of protest by life. The same can be said about the virus.
THE ARTIST
Susanta Chowdhury/ India
A former student of Visual Arts at the ‘Inner Eye’ College of Art, Susanta is an artist who has been led by his inner eye and soul. An artist per excellence he is one of the most famous visual artists of his generation.
My childhood years have my grasped my memories and stored them like a child stores his favourite marbles, with passion and ardour. As the world moved faster, we tend to move away from emotions and memories. This is my attempt to stay closer to my origin and retracing my nexus with my roots.
THE ARTIST
Gopa Roy/ India
A former student of Visual Arts at the ‘Inner Eye’ College of Art, Susanta is an artist who has been led by his inner eye and soul. An artist per excellence he is one of the most famous visual artists of his generation.
The shape of the virus has been used to demonstrate a family coming closer to each other using a webcam. The harmful effects of the virus has been replaced by the closeness the world experienced during the lockdown.
THE ARTIST
Uttaran Chaudhuri/ India
Uttaran is an copywriter in an advertising agency. He began the #GoViralToStopTheVirus initiative and started creating art, only to contribute to the movement. A student to literature, Uttaran has no artistic education or background.
Kali is the Hindu goddess of death, time, and doomsday and is often associated with violence but is also considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love. She is most often represented in art as a fearful fighting figure to bring back peace in earth. In the current pandemic situation, Maa Kali is a symbol of strength to fight with the Devil Corona virus.
THE ARTIST
Srinjana Basak / India
The artist has completed her Graduation in Psychology from Victoria College Institution, Baithakkhana, Kolkata, in 2018 and is currently pursuing Masters on Psychology. She has completed her Diploma course on painting from Charukala Board and worked on various freelance projects on painting since last 2 years.
In March, during Quarantine, I started drawing “Pandemic” works. My art project is based on the Ecosystem of the Environment of the Nature. My first focus mainly consists of living beings like marine animals, aquatic animals, sea animals, coral reefs and Urbanization which effect the Ecosystem and our environment.
THE ARTIST
Bitarka Majumder / India
The artist is a Painter , Printmaker & Graphics Designer. She completed B.F.A & M.F.A degree in printmaking from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, 2014. The artist has a hearing impairment and simplicity of speech. Now she is a full time practicing artist for the last 7 year.
Through the Eternal Journey we can connect who we really are. It’s mainly based on what we have in our souls. We need to find it, as it’s an Eternal Journey with no limits. Through this Journey we can get strength and can overcome any other storm or Pandemic.
THE ARTIST
Indrani Acharya / India
The Artist has completed Diploma in Painting. She was also awarded a Scholarship in Designing from Gujarati University. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Calcutta University, Studied Wildlife & Bio Diversity from Scottish Church College. She started her journey from very early age and has been working as an artist for the last 12 years. She works with various mediums like Painting, Mural, Sculpture, Performance Art, Land/Nature Art, Installation, Site Specific etc. She is now working in India and abroad.
All of us ,we are slaves of our thoughts. Our reasons, judgments, habits which make us rational beings- are controlled by our minds. When we look at the mirror, we try to not meet our own eyes. Rather we see the inside of our souls to find everything that goes in our head. In this mixed media art, I present different symbolic forms of my mind, something I realized through deep retrospection.
THE ARTIST
Susmita Singha Roy / India
The artist has completed her Graduation in BFA from Birla Academy of Art & Culture (Swar Sangam,) Kolkata. She has completed her Diploma course on painting from Sababharatiya Sangeet O Sanskriti Parishad and worked on various freelance Projects on Painting since last 2 Years.
I work mainly on the subject of freedom. Nature itself is the living embodiment of liberation. The freedom of nature is constantly making us aware of its expansion. The colors of nature, the lines, their shapes and the transparency I have used in the picture. The shapes in nature are observed and photographed and used in the picture.
I have worked on topics that happen around me that are connected to my thoughts or memory, such as medicinal use of natural plants during the Corona period.
THE ARTIST
Pratiksha Jain / India
Completed Bachelor’s of visual Arts From Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thakarcey Women’s University Mumbai in 2018 Pursing Masters of visual arts From Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thakarcey Women’s University Mumbai.
The shape of the virus is used to portray a positive aspect everyone can relate with. The shape has been translated to potted plants, which everyone can attend to during the lockdown period. This art attempts to make people relaxed and feel positive about life.
THE ARTIST
Subhrakanti Mandal / India
The artist is an award-winning illustrator and an adman at Wunderman Thompson. He is also a nature enthusiast and is a loving father of two beautiful daughters.
The shape of the virus has found translation into the lovely Masaai necklace, the very picture of elegance. The artist paints beautiful and graceful African women and portrays their beauty to the world.
THE ARTIST
Joyce Shihundu
Joyce Shihundu is an active African painting artist and makes her contemporary African figures with a combination of acrylic paint, banana leaves, feathers, and authentic fabric. These art materials give her African paintings a unique texture and a 3-D stand out type feature.
In this pandemic situation we should help one another. No matter what the religion is. We all are the children of the nature. Unity is strength. If we fight together, we definitely win for the sake of the mankind.
THE ARTIST
Bidisha Chandra / India
The artist has completed her B.F.A in graphic design and applied art from Govt. college of art and craft, Kolkata, West Bengal in 2018. Thereafter her first working life started in Cygnus advertising as a Graphic Designer. Then she started working in Anonymous digital. Now she is working in JWT Kolkata as a Junior Creative Art Director and Designer.
Stitching my own hair, Handmade paper
I’ve chosen the material which is my own hair, as my hair is very much precious to me, actually I believe hair is precious to everyone and we don’t want to lose it. So, we use to take extra care of it. Hence, we suffer hair loss and then we get into fear. So, my hair has been used as a metaphor. I want to show fear of losing something or someone precious to our life.
Simple running stitch plays an entire role in my art work. My process has inspired by age old traditional folk art KANTHA EMBROIDERY that has been dominated by women. In this way I’ve tried to create relationship between old and new.
Rupa Nath
Bachelor of Fine Art (2018), Painting, College of Visual Art, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagara. Pursuing Master of Fine Art (2020), Painting, Rabindra Bharati University.
The lockdown kickstarted a huge rush of panic buying. The stores were empty. People were buying more than they needed. In the artwork, the importance of sharing has been shown, using the shape of the virus positively.
Biswarup Nath / India
Biswarup is an art director with13 years experience in conceptualizing and creating communications for leading local & national brands. He is also an award-winning photographer and is recognised for creative excellence through various National and regional awards.
During this Covid 19 Pandemic, people are all caged. Waiting for the new beginning. Here in the artwork “Hand with a key” indicates “HOPE”.. One day will come, when everyone will be free and back again to their normal life as before.
Chandra Mondal / India
After completing his studies, Chandra did a Diploma course on Graphic Designing. He is a Graphic Artist by profession. He has done many national and international work/projects (graphic design) as a freelancer.
This work is the representation of complete silence appearing in the atmosphere of the current COVID pandemic. The silent environment symbolises lifestyle that has come to a standstill due to this situation. The hanging flesh here refers to the primary instinct of the needy people to feed themselves and their family.
Falguni Rawat / India
Focusing on vivid representations based on usage of multiple media, the artist has completed her Graduation in Painting from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, in 2018. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Painting from the same institution.
As the title suggests, “Flow” is the depiction of broken reflection of a building on the water of a pond in my neighbourhood, rippling under the effect of wind. The pieces of collaged faces and figures represent the bits and pieces of memories as we reflect upon our past, as we move forth with the flow of time.
Pooja Ghosh / India
Exploring her subject across a diverse range of media, the artist has completed her Graduation in Painting from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, in 2018. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Painting from the same institution.
The COVID pandemic has had various impacts on people. While some are quite comfortable with the isolation, it has become a matter of concern for many others. The work highlights this factor as experienced by many.
Rounak Patra / India
An expert in diverse mediums, the artist has completed his Graduation in Painting from The Indian College of Arts and Draftsmanship and masters from Rabindra Bharati University(GOLD MEDAL), Kolkata, in 2016 & 2018 respectively . He used to work as an illustrator in a Daily Newspaper, tabloids, magazines. At present he is working as an Assistant Professor (Visual Arts) in the SRI SRI UNIVERSITY,ODISHA,CUTTACK)
Kali is the Hindu goddess of death, time, and doomsday and is often associated with violence but is also considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love. She is most often represented in art as a fearful fighting figure to bring back peace in earth. In the current pandemic situation, Maa Kali is a symbol of strength to fight with the Devil Corona virus.
Srinjana Basak / India
The artist has completed her Graduation in Psychology from Victoria College Institution, Baithakkhana, Kolkata, in 2018 and is currently pursuing Masters on Psychology. She has completed her Diploma course on painting from Charukala Board and worked on various freelance projects on painting since last 2 years.
Day after day , nature provides the air we breathe, the food we eat, the ground beaneth our feet. In the name of science and development we destroy nature day by day. This artwork is a prayer for Mother Nature to heal when we stay locked during the pandemic.
Sayantani Das, India
The artist holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts and Design from one of the prestigious universities of India. She has worked for an e-commerce portal and is currently working in a reputed ad agency.
The lockdown offers us a chance to relook at mythology. This artwork offers a new look at characters of Indian mythology. The shape of the virus has been used as a decorative motif in the background.
Suchandrima Khan/ India
An expert in pen work, doodling & paper craft, the artist is mostly self taught. She has a passion and drive for excellence.
The pandemic situation of covid -19, lockdown offers us time to admire nature and look at things which are usually ignored. The shape of the virus has been used as a decorative form in the composition of printmaking. This composition of the printing is based on dreamland, which arises out of sub-conscious mind and thoughts.
Jyotirmoy Dalapati, India
The national award-winning artist is a renowned printmaker. His work is based on the eco-system. His first focus mainly consists of living beings like insects, birds, beasts and fish.
Ravana is also depicted as the author of the Ravana Samhita, a book on Hindu astrology, and the Arka Prakasham, a book on Siddha medicine and treatment. In the famous mythology Ramayana, Ravana is seen as the villain, whom Lord Rama kills to free his wife Sita. In this artwork, the character of Ravana is as a gatekeeper. He is protecting us and has captured the virus, the invisible enemy.
Kedaram Viswanathan / India
Born in Kumbakonam 1964, Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, he comes from a family of artists. Kumbakonam is a glorious temple town, adorned with beautiful ancient temples of Chola and Pallava era. His schooling was near the Railway Station, Darasuram. No wonder he was influenced by mythology from his childhood.
The lockdown offers us time to admire nature and look at things which are usually ignored. The shape of the virus has been used as a decorative medium in houses at night, as the moon shines making the night magical.
Mou Chakraborty / India
An expert in diverse mediums, the artist has completed her Graduation in Painting from College of Visual Arts, Garia- Kolkata, in 2016. She has been working with advertising agencies since then.
The shape of the virus has been used to create a beautiful image of the Indian mythology. We see the God Shiva and the Goddess Parvati as a unified entity, forming the earth, the ocean and the sky.
Swadhin Ganguly / India
After graduating from the University of Calcutta, Swadhin Ganguly worked across various professions for 9 years before starting to paint. An artist of exceptional skills, his art is appreciated across the nation.
The shape of the virus has been translated into the moment before life is created. As an atmosphere of dread and anxiety surrounds us during the pandemic, the artist through her art, celebrates life.
Poulami Guha / India
The artist studied Botany from the University of Calcutta. It was after her formal education that she moved towards art and never looked back.
The shape of the virus has been used as a negative space to depict the image of a spine. As the lockdown affected countless people and made them nervous, the artist through his art has urged the multitude to stay strong.
Prasenjit Bera / India
Prasenjit Bera is a multiple national and international-award winning art director at Ogilvy & Mather Calcutta. Prasenjit has created extremely effective campaigns across his career and his art has been appreciated across the nation.
#GoViralToStopTheVirus is a collaborative effort by artists around the world to battle the atmosphere of depression and fear in the world through positive art. The brief given to the artists was, they had to use the shape of COVID 19 and give it a positive twist. The challenge is they can’t show the virus negatively. It can’t be shown as a weapon, a bomb or a round blade. It has to be shown in a positive light, to spread a positive message.The shape of the virus that spreads dread and anxiety, has to be used as a symbol to spread hope and positivity.
The movement was conceived to progress in phases. In the first phase, the shape of the virus was used creatively to convey positive messages. In that phase the shape of the virus was still recognisable. In the second phase, musicians, sculptors, photographers, artists and poets were requested to give the shape the gift of abstraction. In that phase, the shape of the virus was disintegrated to abstraction. The virus was translated to Asemic writing, to Jazz improvisations, sculptures, 19-word stories and poems about hope, longing and love. That is how this movement aims to stop the virus from being a symbol of dread and translate it to a symbol of creativity and hope. Today over 2,500 artists, art directors, graphic designers, photographers, poets, writers, children, musicians and students of 54 different countries have joined in this movement.
Uttaran Chaudhuri / India
Uttaran is a poet and ad-man based in London and India. He began this movement out of a personal crisis.
This is his statement.
Why did I create #GoViralToStopTheVirus?
As the world was being taken over by COVID 19, I began to face the music too. I was locked at home, constantly worrying about my family and my parents, facing uncertainty about my job and my salary. I was down, depressed and about to lose sanity. My father, who is an 80 year old with a lung condition, contracted a severe urinary tract infection. And there was no way we could take him to a hospital. Hell, there is no way I could catch a taxi, go home and meet him too. After some harrowing days of stress, I realised, it is the same with everyone. Everyone in the world is worried. Anxious. And about to lose their marbles.
Hence, I thought, why not turn this upside down? In a time of a worldwide crisis, why not spread optimism to people...using the darn virus itself? Why don't I use the shape which is spreading fear and stress to create content which will spread smiles and make people feel positive?
A lot of people asked me, isn't the shape too limiting for artistic freedom? And hey, what are you going to get out of this?
To answer them, I must say, the possibilities of creativity in that particular shape, is more than there are stars in the universe. Call me crazy, but I can see ideas everywhere. In a flower, in kites being flown from terraces. In a tree ringing with birdsongs. And I can't wait to create new art. Using the shape. Positively.
(Hey, you did get that pun there, didn't you?)
And lastly, what do I get from this initiative? Hey, I get to flex my creative muscles to create those artworks. Secondly, I get calls and messages from friends and their friends who have been touched by the posts. And lastly, I get to collaborate with some of the most talented creative minds in the world, while I am at it.
And, that for me, is enough.