Masks Don't Grow On Trees
I am created this piece as a tribute to the experience of the coronavirus pandemic, both the experiences of healthcare workers and the general public. The tree is a representation of how the coronavirus pandemic “came to life” and became our new temporary reality. It is a representation of how the experiences of coronavirus are real, organic, and ever-changing with the seasons, just like trees. The Zoom rug is symbolic of how virtual interactions have become the base in all aspects of life, from work and school, to keeping in touch with friends. Hand sanitizer bottles are placed to represent how hyperawareness for maintaining hygiene nurtures distanced interactions now, just like water nurtures the roots of a plant. The toilet paper as the bark of the tree is a playful stab at how many people were swarming to the stores to stock up on toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic. The masks imitating the presence of leaves serve as an ironic statement of how masks and other PPE were in a deadly shortage at a time when healthcare workers needed them the most. Hence, the ironic title “Masks Don’t Grow on Trees”. I hope anyone who views my piece will share a laugh about the ironic representations of some notable objects during the Covid-19 pandemic and also relate to it.
