KETAKI SARPOTDAR

UNDER THE SHADOW

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During a two-month stay in 1646, I researched on critical socio-political commentary in times of pandemic crisis. I researched on influenza and other flu pandemic's (before COVID-19) illustrations from the magazine “De Nieuwe Amsterdammer,” with the support of Jeff Schaeps, an art historian at Leiden University Library. This material is housed in the archives of the Leiden University Library. These prints provide a unique perspective on the political context of the Netherlands at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century (1889-1920). The critical drawings capture citizens' experiences, illustrate the criticism of politicians, and present thought-provoking cartoons from that era.

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I aimed to study the struggle with disinformation and the public's reactions to the socio-political situation during this unprecedented crisis. I seek to understand how pandemic illustrations from history can resonate with our experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am currently working on my project 'Under the Shadow.' This graphic book explores COVID-19 experiences and examines how human psychology and behaviour changed or took different shapes during one of the biggest crises of our time. Yet, at first, we were unaware of the impending darkness that was slowly growing. The first to be affected during any crisis are the underprivileged masses. However, for the rest, this was a time to kick back and take a break, replacing the need for social interactions with virtual ones, and exploring or cultivating hobbies. At the same time, writer Francesca Melandri, in her article "Letter from Your Future," aims to help us understand the seriousness of our situation. She discusses how activities and thoughts that we initially perceive as entertainment can eventually turn into feelings of distress and disgust over time.

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After a while, I realized that the pandemic lockdown divides our world into two distinct sides. On one side, within the confines of our homes, people are facing emotional and mental crises, feeling a constant fear of illness, grappling with economic challenges, and dealing with repetitive thoughts and personal issues. On the other side is the world outside our windows, filled with mass existential questions, hatred, death, economic turmoil, misinformation, a lack of medical facilities, and insufficient awareness about the virus, all coupled with temporary solutions to the endless incidents unfolding around us.

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The idea of the book is to document these experiences. The images and narratives are based on or inspired by my immediate surroundings as well as virtual situations. They reflect the diverse perspectives and opinions of people during that time.