The Kunsthaus Bregenz in western Austria exhibits “Unprecedented Times,” comprised mostly of works produced by artists as the virus spread and they sheltered in place this year.
“Grita” (2010) by Markus Schinwald. Credit… Markus Schinwald/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York and Bildrecht, Wien.
The only work created pre-pandemic is by the Austrian artist Markus Schinwald, who for years has modified 19th-century portrait paintings by adding accessories to their subjects — often fictional prosthetics such as fake noses, but also fabric masks. The elegantly masked “Grita” and “Meron” now seem eerily prescient.
“Meron” (2008) by Markus Schinwald. Credit… Markus Schinwald/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York and Bildrecht, Wien.
… “Unprecedented Times” highlights the anxieties and uncertainties of life in a pandemic. Boredom, doubt, and isolation weave through the works, some of which also offer glimpses into how artists produce under pressure.
(Kimberley Bradley, “What Worried Artists in Lockdown? The Same Things as Everyone Else,” NYTimes, 8-5-20)
I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.
EthicalDative 
Boredom, Doubt and Isolation in the Arts
The Kunsthaus Bregenz in western Austria exhibits “Unprecedented Times,” comprised mostly of works produced by artists as the virus spread and they sheltered in place this year.
The only work created pre-pandemic is by the Austrian artist Markus Schinwald, who for years has modified 19th-century portrait paintings by adding accessories to their subjects — often fictional prosthetics such as fake noses, but also fabric masks. The elegantly masked “Grita” and “Meron” now seem eerily prescient.
… “Unprecedented Times” highlights the anxieties and uncertainties of life in a pandemic. Boredom, doubt, and isolation weave through the works, some of which also offer glimpses into how artists produce under pressure.
(Kimberley Bradley, “What Worried Artists in Lockdown? The Same Things as Everyone Else,” NYTimes, 8-5-20)
(c) 2020 JMN
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About JMN
I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.