Artistic Sketches During the COVID-19 Pandemic (screen reader compatible)

Artistic Sketches During

the COVID-19 Pandemic

An exploration of life during the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of pen sketches

By Chang Su (she/her/hers), Yale School of Medicine, Class of 2021

To follow is a screen reader compatible version of the sketchbook video.

Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 1: (on next page) To the victims of domestic violence who are silenced by COVID 19. // NYT: A New COVID-19 Crisis: domestic abuse rises worldwide.
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 2: (on next page) To the performing artists whose wings are cut off by COVID 19. // NYT: New York arts institutions closed because of coronavirus.
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 3: (on next page) To the grocery store workers who are on the frontlines of COVID 19. // Elm City Market, New Haven
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 4: (on next page) To those creative souls who miss sports, particularly curling, during COVID 19 // An online GIF of a person swiffering in front of a Roomba like in curling
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 5: (on next page) To the pandas in Ocean Park, HK who mated naturally for the first time in a decade during the COVID 19 “Panda-mic.”
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 6: (on next page) To all the talented performing artists who brought us Broadway shows for decades but had to stop due to COVID 19. // NYC Broadway closed till June. // 4.14.20
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 7: (on next page) To those cherry blossoms that are offering the world some beauty per usual, despite of COVID. // Wooster Square, New Haven. // 4.16.20
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 8: (on next page) To those animals that are getting to know each other in the zoo when the zoo is closed temporarily. // Texas State Aquarium – dolphin flipped upside down in excitement when seeing a sloth.
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 9: (on next page) To those who will never give up because there’s always hope. // Inspired by Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver, Season 7. Episode 8 aired on April 17, 2020 Coronavirus IV. // Special thanks to Queen Elizabeth II & Brian Swords of York. // “We believe we have sth you’re looking for, world! It’s called hope!” – Last Week Tonight // 4.23
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 10: (on next page) To all the healthcare workers who have to care for the patients and take care of the patients. // Inspired by “Thousands of protestors challenge stay-at home orders in Washington state” – NYT //photo credit: Alyson McClaran /Reuters // 4.27
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 11: (on next page) To those creative people in Bella, Italy who used long sticks to hold their glasses and toast from their balconies on April 13 // inspired by “3 Things to cheer you up” by The Late Late Show w/ James Corden on April 16, 2020// “Cheers” // 4.29
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 12: (on next page) To those who value human lives more than beach openings // inspired by Twitter post by Daniel Uhlfelder @DWUhlfelderLaw on May 1 for his Florida Grim Reaper tour to “warn” our fellow Floridians about the dangers of not social distancing in the attire of the Grim Reaper // 5.2
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 13: (on next page) To those who are fighting in a galaxy far far away… // May the force (4th) be with you // Inspired by Star War’s day (5.4) //5.4
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 14: (on next page) Happy Mother’s Day // To all the mothers // Note: My mother’s Chinese Zodiac is rabbit and mine is rooster // 5.10
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 15: (on next page) To all the dermatologists working in the COVID wards “The COVID toe” // Inspired by the 5/20 Yale derm grand rounds // 5.20
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 16: (on next page) TO the llama that has been helping during the COVID 19 vaccine development // Inspired by “Meet Winter, the 4-year-old llama whose blood might hold a treatment for COVID 19” – the current, CBC.CA // Brought to attention by the Daily Show w/ Trevor Noah. May 8 “llamanol” // 5.21
Photo of pages from handwritten sketch journal
Image 17: To those who are fighting for human rights. // Vote like your life depends on it, because it does. Vote, for everyone else’s life, esp. those who can’t vote. // 11.2.20
Two pages from Chang Su's sketchbook
Image 18: To Covert Go Blue // Thank you for your great videos. You introduced me to MTG Arena and makes me happy in the pandemic. I loved your videos. Here is a Fervent Sky Noodle for evil CGB 11.25.20
Two pages from Chang Su's sketchbook. Handwritten text on left reads: To Covert Go Blue // Thank you for your great videos. You introduced me to MTG Arena and makes me happy in the pandemic. I loved your videos. Here is a Fervent Sky Noodle for evil CGB 11.25.20

Description

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have seen many images that convey information, such as scientific facts, commentaries, and interesting events, in very powerful, simple and effective ways.  I am interested in exploring life during the COVID-19 pandemic through a visual art perspective, and created a series of small, quick pen sketches inspired by the pandemic. Each sketch was created with a specific audience in mind, and is accompanied by a short message that starts with "To...". I hope that the sketches not only serve as a record of the pandemic, but also as a visual representation of my response to and analysis of the every-changing landscape. I would like to thank the History of Present elective offered by the Yale School of Medicine for inspiring me to start the project. I will continue the project for as long as I see fitting. 

This project was begun April 3, 2020 and submitted November 25, 2020.

About the artist

I was born in Xi’an, China, and immigrated to Calgary, Canada in high school. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BSE in Bioengineering and a minor in Chemistry. At Yale, I am involved in mentorship, community service, and the arts, including being the Arts Programs Student Leader for the Program for the Humanities in Medicine and a member of the Program for Art in Public Spaces committee. In my free time, I love to travel, draw, visit art museums, watch musicals/plays, write a dessert blog, play the flute and Hulusi.

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