‘ART NEEDS YOU AND YOU NEED ART'

Multimedia artist and curator Riyas Komu on the future of Indian Art industry in the times of Covid-19 crisis

- Riyas Komu

The deepening Covid-19 crisis is moving in unpredictable directions and it is sad to see people becoming increasingly helpless, afraid and solitary. When we look at the statistics, it portends a very dangerous scenario that is yet to unfold as people are getting more and more pushed into the margins. As an artist involved in socio-political issues, it is very alarming to see the unfortunate sight that we as humans, instead of building solidarity, are indulging in hate-mongering.

It is very painful to watch misguided people attacking doctors and frontline medical workers, and the targeting and killing of people from weaker sections. As a person living in Mumbai I see people showing great resilience in such dangerous situations, and doing whatever they can to hold the human fort against this pandemic. But it is very worrying to see people waiting for hours to get a bowl of soup or rice and daal. One hopes the pandemic doesn’t spread beyond our control because we are not at all equipped to accommodate such numbers. It is time to show compassion and love towards the people you can reach out to in your circles and to help the people in need.