Affected by Virus, Artists Take Refuge in Work

The image of an apple on a light. A clock on which time seemed to have frozen¹. Healthcare workers that look like astronauts on Mars².

Those are some of Irene Pressner's memories of her experience after becoming infected with the new coronavirus. The artist from Venezuela came close to death in New York City. After suffering severe pain and passing out a few times, she was finally admitted to a hospital. A few days later, her husband was also admitted. Only she survived.

Now in recovery³ and mourning, the artist continues experimenting to see how the virus changes her art. "My works⁴ have light, but now will also have the burden of what I lived," she says.

The coronavirus health crisis⁵ has led many artists to seek refuge⁶ in their work as they search for peace and meaning. Some have suffered the horror⁷, the sickness and the loss of loved ones. Others are trying to control their fear and feelings of loneliness.

Pressner said the art she is making now comes directly from this period of self-discovery. She notes a series of pictures she took shortly before she got sick. The photography piece, called We Are Not Islands, gained new meaning during her isolation⁸. "The other works are transitional, like I have not found myself yet," said the artist, who has been recognized in both Venezuela and the United States. Her award-winning works of art are part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Latin⁹ American Art in Long Beach, California.

In Brooklyn, New York, Venezuelan photographer Lara Alcántara dealt with the worry of her husband working as a doctor at a hospital. She created a make-believe world in images she publishes on social media.

The photos are pictures of herself. Some show how tired she feels in a humorous way: She appears stuck in a washing machine, ironing her head or buried under a child's playthings. Others show her love for clothing. In one image, she hangs along with her clothes.

Alcántara told The Associated Press she usually expresses her tensions¹⁰ and troubles through photography.

"The escape of photography was completely necessary," she added, noting that the news and the stories her husband brought home troubled her a lot.

Lately she has taken her art outdoors. In a piece created at the beginning of August in Florida, four different images of her surround some sort of burial grounds made of sea plants.

"I feel that many people realized that time is very valuable, but that we don't always use it to achieve our happiness. I feel that I found myself in this process and I hope to have inspired others do the same," she said.

I'm Caty Weaver¹¹.

Words in This Story

burden – n. someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with

isolation – n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others

iron – v. to use a heated device¹² to make cloth smooth

achieve – v. to get or reach (something) by working hard

inspire – v. to make (someone) want to do something: to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create

1 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。

2 Mars   

n.火星，战争

参考例句：

• As of now we don't know much about Mars.目前我们对火星还知之甚少。
• He contended that there must be life on Mars.他坚信火星上面一定有生物。

3 recovery   

n.恢复，痊愈；追回，寻回，收复

参考例句：

• The doctors said that his recovery was a miracle. 医生们说他的复原是件奇事。
• The quick recovery was truly in response to medication.这次迅速康复确实是对药物治疗的反应。

4 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

5 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

6 refuge   

n.避难（处），庇护（所）；v.庇护，避难（所）

参考例句：

• They took refuge in a cave yesterday.他们昨天是在一个洞里避难的。
• We took refuge in the lee of the wall.我们在墙的背风处暂避。

7 horror   

n.惊骇，恐怖，惨事，极端厌恶

参考例句：

• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation.公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。
• The thought of working nights fills me with abject horror.一想到要夜间工作我就觉得惨兮兮的。

8 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

9 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

10 tensions   

（情绪上的）紧张( tension的名词复数 )； 张力； 紧张的状态； （作家或电影导演制造的）紧张气氛

参考例句：

• Social tensions were manifested in the recent political crisis. 最近的政治危机显示了社会关系的紧张。
• These disagreements are symptomatic of the tensions within the party. 出现意见分歧表明该党内部的关系紧张。

11 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

12 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。