How are you experiencing the lockdown?
I am lucky enough to be with my family in Bali, “The Island of Gods”. Here, there is no compulsory lockdown. The borders (and therefore all tourist infrastructures), then the schools, were closed around mid-March, as if the Indonesian authorities were aligning with the European timeline, even though Bali had welcomed 240,000 Chinese tourists in December and January, including three flights per week from Wuhan. However, during this period, many locals and expats, myself included, fell ill with symptoms very similar to those of COVID, which no one was really talking about at the time.
Today, the official toll in Bali is two deaths (elderly and sick) and 113 reported cases, half of which have recovered. The Balinese and Indonesian population is very young, with an average age of 29 (only 8% of the population is over 65). The average temperature is 28-30°C, and 90% of Balinese live in open-air family compounds without air conditioning. All this to say that it is quite possible that Bali has developed "herd immunity".
The majority of Balinese and expats, having more than probably been exposed to the virus very early on, seem to have found and produced the appropriate antibodies, nullifying the terrible ravages described elsewhere 24/7 by the media and social networks. Even if that were the case, the governor of Bali has, for a month now, aligned with the same soft guidelines as those applied in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, etc.), meaning no generalized lockdown, apart from closed beaches. The majority of the population reacted by wearing masks (which we never lacked) and respecting social distancing without being forced to.
Bali is a magnetic island with a high vibrational frequency, not conducive to the spread of this damned low-frequency virus. We feel safe here, as if protected. We are very grateful for its gratitude.
What is your state of mind?
Artists already have, "in my opinion," a confined mind in their infinite imagination; it's innate. So there are no real frustrations; quite the contrary, it's incredibly exhilarating that the whole world is finally calming down.
In Bali, we have an annual ritual called Nyepi. Three days of absolute silence throughout the island, without electricity or internet, and even the international airport is closed. It's a way for them to ward off evil spirits.
Since the birth of Earth, there have been thousands of epidemics, but the absence of social networks and media creating this anxiety-provoking atmosphere left us ignorant, and everyone went about their business as they pleased. I simply observe that all of humanity has lost its way through useless over-consumption and has forgotten the essential.
Every day I pray for all those men and women who help the sick trapped by a lack of basic care. It's insane to have overlooked the importance of health in a world with such a dense population. Without the Earth, we would not be of this world…
Does this lockdown experience have an impact on your artistic approach?
I simply return to drawing; the computer is "locked down". A few times a week, I continue to take care of the horses, who no longer have access to the beach or the rice paddies, so I take the opportunity to play with them in the arena, and I like to massage them. It also helps them relax. Between the horses and me, it's a long love story…
Are you practicing during the lockdown? If so, can you tell us about your new works?
Yes, at first I painted trees, each the color of a chakra, then I imagined people living in their small spaces with others, then the horses returned... I paint nature and animals with my hands and interiors with charcoal and watercolor.
The Beach House
The Lovers