Artwork: Racism, Ignorance and Fear during Coronavirus

. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .

I was saddened to read of the racial backlash on the Asian community during these perilous Coronavirus/ Covid-19 times, the discrimination and violence due to the xenophobia among global communities, heightened by so-called leaders who spoke out of ignorance, poisoning minds and propagating hatred. With the shelter-in-place, I read about the rise in domestic violence, the ousting of different peoples, and the widening the disparity between the have and have-nots.

When creating this piece, I thought about the Texas family who was stabbed while shopping by an ignoramus who thought they were Chinese, and infecting people. The drawing is also about the “intimate terrorism” of women who are enduring the cowardly actions of their abuser, of all those who are scared for their safety due to the actions of others.

This emotional drawing was inspired by the works of Kathe Kollwitz, “Death Seizing a Woman” and her powerful depictions of people dealing with poverty and war. I wanted to capture the fear and drama of the moment–the main figure running from the darkness surrounding her, while protecting her child. I was also inspired by Dion Lim’s reports and support on the Asian Community, and the fascinating activist works of Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom (chung.woolrim).