
Gan Chin Lee Malaysian, b. 1977
This painting is inspired by the repercussions that the Covid pandemic delivered to the world. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the world has become so disjointed in a way that no moment in the past could relate to. What we imagine and believe to be the age of progress has been undermined by quarantine, lockdown, and suffering. What sets people apart is not just the spread of coronavirus, but all kinds of farcical political machination and conspiracy theories that emerge one after another. History cannot possibly repeat itself, whereas similar scenarios may resurface. The lessons taught by the Spanish Flu to the preceding generations come into sight like reflections around the globe today. In this painting, I try to juxtapose the past and the present by engaging my realist techniques to create form and texture. I hope the work embodies what I expect of equality, democracy, and transparency.