The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an abrupt change in livelihoods and routines all around the world. In particular, creative expression has become an adaptive response to the ever-unpredictable environment. During these troubling times, many of us turn to musicians and content creators for comfort. But how has the pandemic affected the creative industry?
In the west, COVID-19 has been the inspiration for many songs and films. For example, the chart-topping single ‘Stuck with U’, sung by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, features their appreciation for loved ones in lockdown culture, with a subtle note of resignation to the pandemic. By August 2021, the song had raised over 3.5 million USD for the First Responders Childrens’ Foundation, funding scholarships for children of frontline workers.
Don’t Look Up, the newly released movie starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, provokes viewers’ thoughts as the climate crisis and society’s disregard towards the pandemic take on the form of a planet-threatening comet and ensuing apocalypse. One can effortlessly spot the similarities between the nonchalant attitudes of the public in the movie and those in our society who refuse to get vaccinated, wear their masks properly, or adopt social distancing measures.
North America is not alone in drawing inspiration from difficult circumstances. Across the world, as his community falls apart under the pandemic, Spanish contemporary artist Cristobal Gabarrón takes the initiative to redefine himself and his artwork, which centers around humanism. His newest additions carry deeper meanings than ever as human nature displayed during the crisis is incorporated into his work.
In Hong Kong, where the creative industry is somewhat suppressed and little support is offered to the self-employed, local artists have also found a way to navigate through challenging Covid-stricken waters while pursuing their artistic interests.
Artists like Amy Tong and Mildred Cheng have voiced their contradictory opinions on the pandemic, stating that their personal styles were allowed to flourish under a more individual influence due to isolation. While isolation can delay their schedules and exhibitions, it has also helped them find peace and balance, which is further expressed in their craftsmanship.
The Covid lifestyle has also served as a popular subject for illustrations. Isatisse, a brand created by illustrator Isabel Tong, released artworks featuring the 'new norm' of wearing masks and working from home. Catherine Grossrieder, a Hong Kong-based mural artist, has also shared her take on the shortage of tissue paper through her signature cartoon character, Jeliboo.
While the resilience and determination Hong Kong artists continuously demonstrate is admirable, their unanimous vision to spread joy and encouragement through aesthetics and humor proves to be even more inspiring.
Confined to the four walls the pandemic has forced us behind, many of us share the feeling of days flying by as the hours drone on. When monotonous days are lengthened into months and years, and the cycle of studying and scrolling on the phone repeats over and over. Teenagers such as myself, deprived of social interactions and extracurricular activities, can find their days spent without meaning.
A study from PubMed Central shows that three key aspects are central to finding meaning in everyday life: the coherence of events in one's life; significance, the ability to find value, joy and connection in daily life; and purpose for the future.
In particular, the study highlights how creativity can be used to serve all three dimensions of meaning. When other activities like sports and social conversations are restricted, we can instead turn to creative meaning to enhance both our physical and mental health, and perhaps develop a new interest along the way.
The sensation of being immersed in the process of creating itself, regardless of the product, can be intensely joyful for the participants as they lose track of time and surroundings, ultimately relieving themselves of the stress the pandemic bears.
As society and technology progress hand-in-hand, creativity is no longer confined to traditional mediums. While the classic ideas of keeping a writing journal, sketching, or playing some music can never go wrong, those who are more drawn to social media can also find their meaning online. Oftentimes, social media can be the perfect platform for expressing creativity through allowing people to share original reels and clips as well as gain a sense of satisfaction from the support received.
While our normal, ‘Covid-free’ lives seem like a faraway reality as yet another wave of cases washes over Hong Kong, keeping an optimistic mindset and perceiving the lockdown in the best possible light can help one cope with the pandemic more healthily. Unleashing your creativity, with its infinite benefits such as stimulating the mind and reigniting your imagination, may just be the answer to finding yourself once more.
Sources:
Writing: Gaille Su
Editing: Katherine yan
Graphics: Ashley Kwok
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