8 Indian Artists Encapsulating India's COVID-19 Crisis Through Their Work

(L) Shailesh BR ; (R) Param Sahib

All that art lends to the world is invaluable –– it brings about change in emotions, intrigues you, and most definitely, can cause a shift in gaze. What has always held the power to reflect situations that the inspiration stems from, art is once again creating waves of awe.

The vast and devastating effects of the pandemic have left people hopeless and angry –– the former because there seems to be no good news afloat, and the latter because we are essentially alone in this fight.

During the COVID-19 crisis of 2021, several artists have managed to portray the situation in a manner that perfectly captures the struggle of the population along with the ignorance of those in power. Such art, with their impact and compelling nature is bound to strike a chord with you for two reasons –– the artists’ work itself is that mesmerising, and that we are all victim to this deadly virus, with little to no help from the national authorities.

Here are just some of the artists that having realised the gravity of the situation, converted their thoughts into profound art for us to consume.

I. Annie Hazarika

First and foremost –– if you are above the age of 18, we urge you to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus. We say this because vaccination seems to be our biggest hope at returning to a near normal life.

This particular piece of art by Annie Hazarika, too, is a vehicle for the same message. As a responsible citizen, we must register ourselves –– which is exactly what the artwork conveys. With a straightforward conveyance of the advisory, Annie’s art is a reminder to don our accountability hats, and head to the vaccination registration site.

Find Annie here.

II. Hariom

There is a lot that can be said about the current government and their handling of the pandemic in India. Not only has the country seen the darkest times, we also sadly see no sliver of hope.

Packed with several criticisms, but backed by a common thought, Hariom’s artwork conveys leaps and bounds. Riding on the death of thousands across the country, the higher powers of the country sit idle. This piece not only says a lot without words, it is capable of bringing goosebumps to your body –– that’s how genuinely the situation has been portrayed.

Find Hariom here.

III. Lejo Varghese

The condition in hospitals remains dire –– there still exists a desperate lack of oxygen cylinders, beds, ventilators and more.

Titled ‘The Second Wave’, Lejo Varghese’s motion picture representation of a few reports from the recent days is enough to send a chill down your back. We read the reports and we see them as numbers –– this short video makes you realise that each number was an individual and someone’s family. The video is bound to make you uncomfortable, but that is the ground reality that the artist themselves attempted to bring to light.

Watch Lejo’s video here.

IV. Param Sahib

The dearth of oxygen supply is evident. Through news and social media, one is bound to realise how urgent the supply of oxygen cylinders and concentrators really is. Param Sahib’s artwork is an apt representation of this.

Grappling at the last bit of oxygen, COVID-19 patients, children and adults alike, are tugging at the final strings of life, all while those in power keep themselves busy with matters of the election. The teary-eyed woman in the artwork is enough to convey the plight of India’s COVID-19 patients –– she is a representation of the entire country.

Find Param here.

V. Sanket Deshmukh

Bharat Maata, as some refer to our country, is quite genuinely on her knees for oxygen. The country, portrayed as a woman exclaiming the need for oxygen is not an exaggeration –– in fact, it is quite an accurate representation.

Sanket, along with his post says, “This new covid wave has sucked the Oxygen out of the country’s system, and has left infected patients gasping for breath as hospitals in some states continue to face an acute shortage of medical oxygen …. While Mother India continues to suffer, our leaders continue to ignore her pain” –– and we could not have explained it better.

Find Sanket here.

VI. Shailesh BR

The government’s response to the situation in 2021 has been nothing short of appalling. Shailesh’s image clarifies the implications of 2014 when the country brought them to power –– in 2021, the country suffers at the cost of their ignorance and disinvolvement.

In an accompanying caption on Instagram, Shaliesh said, “I was trying to reflect the political conundrum we are entangled in and many could connect with the image.” While he succeed at doing that, the picture, too, holds a power of thousand words, and forewarns us of our actions in 2024.

Find Shailesh here.

VII. Siddharth Samant

Siddharth’s series ‘Life 2021’ is an accurate depiction of what this year has offered us so far. Unable to escape conversations of vaccinations and oxygen, the series is also an homage to those that are quite literally keeping us alive –– frontline workers administering vaccines and those that do the grunt work for oxygen transportation.

The art itself is more than self-explanatory –– it is impactful and packed with power and meaning. ‘Life 2021’ is our reality and our present –– in hopes that it will soon be our past.

Find Siddharth here.

VIII. Tushar Madaan

This particular piece of art, ‘Votes, rally and vision’ depicts the priorities of the government. At a time when COVID-19 cases were on a steep rise, the Prime Minister was calling on people of West Bengal to attend their election rallies in record number to celebrate the ‘festival of democracy’. The Kumbh Mela was not called off, either.

Clarifying their intentions, Tushar’s art is enough to convince us that votes hold precedence over citizens’ lives. It is hard-hitting and reflective in nature - exactly what 2021 needs.