Crown on the edge: street art in the Covid spin
During the COVID-19 pandemic, communication became essential to maintain social connections and spread crucial messages. In a time marked by physical distancing and uncertainty, creativity found new ways to express itself, responding to the challenges and restrictions imposed by the virus. A powerful example of this innovation was the way street art reflected and interpreted the global crisis. From hyper-realistic murals to ironic posters, cities around the world became canvases for artistic reactions to the pandemic. Street art, with its ability to capture the present moment, emerged as a significant voice in a world shaken by the crisis. Through murals, stencils, and posters, artists not only depicted fear and pain but also hope and solidarity.
In Portugal, in Vila Nova de Gaia, MRDHEO depicted a nurse wielding a club, symbolically striking the virus. This raw and dramatic image embodies the anger and determination of the period, providing a stark contrast to the initial images of the pandemic, like the “Super Nurse” by FAKE in Amsterdam, which had represented calm and reassurance.
The pandemic story through street art
As early as February 4, when the spotlight was still on Wuhan and COVID seemed a distant threat, street artist Laika painted on the walls of Rome a Chinese restaurant from Esquilino with the sign #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus, stigmatizing the growing fear of contagion. Since then, the storytelling of the pandemic in urban spaces has been non-stop, covering a broad spectrum of shades—from drama, irony, and news coverage to provocations and absurdities.
In Barcelona, TVBOY reinterpreted the Mona Lisa, hiding her behind a mask, an image reflecting the new normal and the impact of the pandemic on our cultural roots. In London, Lionel Stanhope added a surgical mask to Jan van Eyck’s “Portrait of a Man with a Red Turban”, while in Bristol, Bansky reinterpreted Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, adapting it to the pandemic context.
These examples show how street art was able to adapt and respond to the challenges of the pandemic, offering social and cultural commentary through visual works. Not only did artists depict the difficulties of social distancing, but they also explored the heroism and resilience of people, as seen in tributes to healthcare workers.
In Italy, street art also told the pandemic’s story. During the lockdown, Manu Invisible created a mural dedicated to the virus’s invisible victims, while Harry Greb depicted scenes of denied embraces on the walls of the Spallanzani Hospital in Rome. Blu, one of the most famous Italian street artists, evoked the devastation brought by the virus through a mural of giant pandas destroying a city.
But creativity wasn’t just expressed through street art. In Slovenia, designer Jure Tovrljan redesigned the logos of major brands, adapting them to the new reality imposed by COVID-19. Starbucks’ mermaid wears a mask, Mastercard’s circles are separated to respect social distancing, and the Corona beer logo becomes “Need new name”. This project, titled “Coronavirus Logos”, went viral, demonstrating how the pandemic sparked new forms of creativity.
Art as a beacon of resilience and reflection
Those days of crisis and global isolation revealed how creativity and visual communication can be beacons of resilience and reflection. In a time when fear and uncertainty permeated every corner of our existence, street art and other forms of creative expression demonstrated extraordinary power: not only to represent pain and difficulties but also to offer inspiration and support. At a time when we felt on the edge of the abyss, art shone as a light of hope, creating a deep human connection. It showed that even when the world seemed to be falling apart, creativity could guide us, help us find our way, and make us feel less alone.
