2020 was the start of a battle that couldn’t be seen with naked eyes but was felt all around the globe. Coronavirus (COVID-19) was the starting point for all the new norms that encompass all perspectives such as interaction and communication among people in the society. What used to be close are not separated and what used to be physical are now virtualised. Rare acts that are not used to be done are now becoming a normal occurrence; Movement Control Order (MCO), the tag ‘Kita Jaga Kita’, face mask, vaccines, self-quarantine order and even doing various things online.
In the beginning of the pandemic, talk regarding essential services and non-essential Services went wild. Those whose work categorised as non-essential services such as artists were one of few that were mainly affected due to the pandemic. The pandemic limited any exhibition and art performance that used to be done before the pandemic. There are those who are able to restock their art supplies for them to continue making art but for those who are not, through their creativity, they are still able to give birth to new art. Some might get stuck in the early stage as they are confined for too long but the constraints must be let go!
Due to the sudden changes, chances for both gallery and the artists to make themselves active are limited. The process of exhibiting and partaking also goes through some phases, from physical-virtual-physical with social-distances along with the implementation of face masks which are all taken into account to prevent the spread of the life-threatening virus.
After years of being shrouded in uncertainty, the announcement of pandemic to endemic phase sheds a light on our artists. It is undeniable that this exhibition is one of a way for the artists to express their experience and their observation towards the changes in their norms during the pandemic. Even so, this exhibition hopes to draw the curtain for all the feelings and the memories of facing COVID-19 as well as for it to become a spirit burner for us to stand up and face forward to grasp chances that are blessed upon us.
The virtual exhibition, ‘Bingkas Berdiri: Naratif Seni COVID-19’ combines the artworks from more than 25 senior and young artists such as Adeputra Masri, Adib Rawi, Al-Khuzairie Ali, Anisa Abdullah, Awang Damit Ahmad, Azneal Ishak, Bayu Utomo Radjikin, Cheong Tuck Wai, Choong Kam Kow, Donald Abraham, Hasnoor Hussain, Husin Othman, Nadirah Zakariya, Najib Bamadhaj, S.C. Shekar, Shukri Elias, Umibaizurah Mahir and more.
Gallery 1 : For Health and Safety
Gallery 2 : The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak
