Being an artist in these uncertain times we are living, adds a different layer of complexity to one’s reality. Generally speaking, artists tend to juggle multiple part-time jobs in order to sustain their ability to create work. Under Covid-19’s enforced lockdown measures, many of these realities and jobs have stopped, leaving artists with more challenges to face as they are forced to find new ways to access materials, fund studio rent and locate time for their work within a domestic environment.

The arts are for many a process for healing, a space to facilitate an exploration of emotions and feelings that promotes grounding. However, amidst lockdown pressures of homeschooling, greater financial instability, violence and conflict within the home, swamped within an industry of cancelled exhibitions and reduced work networks, the space for an artists creativity can be compromised. 

In this section we wanted to explore and acknowledge the different effects to everyday life that Covid-19 has brought to artists. That at times hinder their ability to create work as they deal with extra responsibilities and new burdens, but also this time has given space to many artists for new thought patterns and creative processes.

We wanted to give voice to those artists in quarantine and hear their stories, to learn how artists in a global lockdown are dealing with and responding to, the double-edge sword that an artist’s creativity can be.