Staff #96 and the artist @ Kapoenstraat Maastricht during the Covid-19 pandemic. September 25, 2020 (Staff # 96 345 cm)
The decree of the mayor
On January 15, 2020, we read on a shop window the decree of the mayor of Prato, Italy, that Chinese New Year could not be celebrated this year. We were in Italy, but in this shopping street, only Chinese characters could be read. For the first time, I saw people walking down the street wearing face masks. What had initially been news about an event in far away Wuhan now suddenly seemed close to home.
Covid-19 virus
After a series of then still unexplained deaths, the fight against the Covid-19 virus began a few months later. With face masks, a lockdown, and eventually vaccinations.
Paintings become reality
The individualism that has dominated society for years is now becoming the norm. The gesture of social connection is prohibited; shaking hands has become too dangerous. People must keep a distance of 1.5 meters from each other. Two of Balthus’ paintings become reality: Passage du Commerce-Saint-André, 1952-1954 (Fondation Beyeler) and La Rue 1933, (Moma New York)
