It is said that turmoil fuels creativity, a fact often attested to by
renowned artists the world over who have turned some of humanity’s most
horrific tragedies into majestic pieces of art. It was no different in
2003 when China and the rest of the world were forced to grapple with
the SARS outbreak which brought life as people knew it to a complete
standstill. But it also served to shape the art world in Beijing, and in
turn the discourse around the SARS outbreak, with such notable
exhibitions as ‘Blue Sky Exposure’ by artist Huan Rei, which featured a
stirring depiction of massive lungs made from hemp, 180 flying face
masks, and condoms cut out of origami. Another notable example of the
time was a photography series by Gao Feng, who showed himself wearing a
mask the size of a duvet. At the moment, with the Coronavirus outbreak,
it would appear that Beijing is again gripped in the throes of an
uncertain future. But this has only served as fuel for a new generation
of Beijing artists. Jacopo Della Ragione is one such artist. Based in
Beijing, he is one of the artists currently charged with the monumental
task of capturing in paint, the truth about a city waiting out what has
been described as a global pandemic.
What has been your own personal experience with the coronavirus outbreak with your family?
I could say we had a hipster approach to the whole situation: on
January 23 Sirio (潘启锋), my son, came back from a winter camp with H1N1.
Luckily we went to the hospital the next day where they identified it
immediately, then sent us home with medicines and with the
recommendation to quarantine ourselves for at least seven days.
During those days the lock-down of our compound started, so we had to
ask the Management to help us retrieve the parcels being dropped off at
the main gate. I’m glad to say that they were really understanding and
helpful.
Now we’re still half quarantined, mostly because there aren’t really
many places to go, but my wife has started going back to the office
taking turns with her colleagues, which I would say is quite an
organized way to never have people from different groups to meet.
How has this
current medical crisis affected your art? Has it affected the quality or
the quantity of your work or even the subject matter?
I work at home, so I was expecting to boost my productivity quite a
lot, but I realized that I’m used to being home alone and now I’m not.
On one hand there are chores, usually taken care of by our Ayi – who is
still in her hometown – and on the other hand, it is much more difficult
to concentrate. So, I’m producing more or less the same.
Since how I paint is very instinctual, it is constantly affected by
the situation that surrounds me, so even if I wanted it would be
impossible to not let the current crisis affect my work; but I don’t
actively look for it. It will be interesting, once the crisis is over to
see how my work will change again, and then look back at everything
I’ve produced during this period to look for patterns.What do you feel is the importance of art, especially in this time of the Coronavirus?
Art is part of humanity, its importance changes during different
steps of our development as individuals. I have been involved in
children’s education through art and art therapy in the past few years,
and through that I understand the importance of it not being taken for
granted in our daily lives.
Unfortunately, especially visual arts have been taken away from the
“normality” of our daily lives; I think it’s a huge loss, so with my
work and few art related projects, through conscious curating and
creating, I am attempting to re-establish that inextricable link between
the normal and the artistic, especially now when beauty is needed the
most.
What do you plan to be the future of your art and where can Beijingers enjoy your art?
Probably you should ask what my art is planning for my future.My plan is to keep creating works and seizing any opportunity to
challenge myself and my creations, but also to bring as many people as
possible to discover or rediscover their relationship with visual arts.
I’m always happy to show my works, although every time it feels like
being naked in front of a crowd. At the moment I’m not represented by
anyone, but there’s a personal exhibition going on at JoyBeans Space
(15, Longtoujing Street (龙头井街15号); it’s supposed to last until Feb 16,
but we’re talking about extending it at least for another month. They
also make coffee there, and it isn’t half bad!