(Student Submission)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Artist Statement:
My perception of reality changed. With every day that went by, my connection to the outside world seemed to be fading away. I no longer felt in total control of my life—actually, I am sure I was not.
I have always worked hard to make the best move, to take advantage of every opportunity in my life, hoping to maximize my chances of achieving something for myself. Then, COVID-19 happened, and I saw all the pieces on the chess board of my life slowly taken away, without any logic and following no rules. Each one of the pieces was slowly getting lost in time and space. And although I initially felt anxious, desperate, and even hopeless, I no longer do.
I realized that my vision of the world was exactly that, just a perception of how I interpreted my surroundings. My chess board has not disappeared, it is still there, perhaps in a different shape. My goals remain clear, and my hope will never leave me. Even with our current limitation of human contact, I realized I feel closer than ever with my family and friends. My connection with the world remains, just more virtual than ever.