During this sad and frustrating moment, many leaders and influencers stepped out and encouraged the world with hope and faith. For example, the famous Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama wrote a poem, female star Angelina Jolie interviewed by TIME, and queen Elizabeth II shared a speech in the Easter. Tracey Emin posting her live life during quarantine in her social media.
Yayoi Kusama composed a poem titled A Massage from Yayoi Kusama to the Whole World. She wrote an introduction saying that ‘Today, with the world facing COVID-19, I feel the necessity to address it with this message.’ In her words, she sent a positive message that we should share love and kindness. ‘To COVID-19 that stands in our way, I say Disappear from this earth, We shall fight, We shall fight this terrible monster’ she wrote. She combined the poem with her work’ When Life Boundlessly Flares up to the Universe’. This painting drew a red Mount Fuji, blue sky, green space, and the rising smiling sun. Telling us the world that darkness will eventually pass, and the sun will rise again to illuminate the earth.
The TIME magazine reported a series of articles with the theme ‘Finding Hope’, Angelina Jolie giving her own thought and suggestions. She talked about the impact on children caused by this epidemic, stating that the direct influence on the child is less. However, they may get in danger, like violence, as their family’s economy is affected. Also, schools are now closing, so it is difficult for kids to find any third party that can help. She closed with addressing the society to provide resources for kids and still strives to care for children. Reminding everyone that in this dark moment, we need to protect each other.
Elizabeth II’s historic broadcast to the United Kingdom addressing the coronavirus pandemic on 5 April. Her Majestic offered a message of encouragement, protruding values like self-discipline and strong which united and resolute as British identities. Also, she expressed her thanks for the people who worked on the front line. A week later, on Easter, the royal family Facebook page updated another speech by the Queen. She said, ‘Many religions have festivals which celebrate light overcoming darkness. Such occasions are often accompanied by the lighting of candles. They seem to speak to every culture and appeal to people of all faiths, and of none. They are lit on birthday cakes and to mark family anniversaries, when we gather happily around a source of light. It unites us.’ Although this year celebration is different compared with the past, ‘by keeping apart, we keep others safe. Easter isn't canceled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever.’
The British artist Tracey Emin shared her everyday life on Instagram. She wants to give herself an example of an idea of art. During an interview with The Art Newspaper, she said ‘A diary suits me, the way I work and think.’ She mentioned that we needed art, kinds of art. We needed to encourage museums and galleries to do as many diverse projects and interventions as possible. She recorded her life as she believed it could be a form of art that documents our situation, our mood, and changes.
Coronavirus is testing the world’s tenacity and changing our lifestyle. We, humans, should unite and t believe that light will eventually defeat darkness.
Figure 1：Angelina Jolie © Angelina Jolie's facebook
Figure 2 top left：A brief burst of light points to the future’ ... Yayoi Kusama in 2015. Photograph: Courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Victoria Miro, David Zwirner
Figure 2 left bottom： ©YAYOI KUSAMA
Figure 2 top right： Queen Elizabeth II, Photo by The Royal Family Facebook
Figure 2 left bottom：Tracy Emin © Piers Allardyce
