Online Virtual Art During Coronavirus
During the coronavirus lockdown in 2020, the situation of virtual art saw significant changes. Many artists and galleries turned to online platforms to showcase and experience art due to the closure of physical exhibition spaces.
This shift led to an increased interest in the online art market, with the emergence of virtual showrooms, digital exhibitions and online galleries.
Additionally, some artists turned to virtual reality to share their work during the lockdown, demonstrating the adaptability of virtual art in the face of the pandemic.
Little did I know then how radically the coronavirus would transform the art landscape. The pivot to online platforms ignited mainstream interest in digital art.
Online virtual art gained huge momentum when traditional venues had zero physical access. Transfixed by the burgeoning virtual art scene, I witnessed seismic shifts in the making. The dawn of a new era fusing art and technology.
With the normalisation of virtual art experiences, the art world has crossed a digital Rubicon, forever changing audience preferences and access expectations. The virus outbreak acted as an unexpected catalyst. Once unleashed, these virtual creative spaces continued flourishing well beyond lockdown lifts.
The year 2020 will be etched in my memory forever. The year that shook our world irrevocably.
When I reflect back now with some distance, images of those first surreal months of the pandemic flare brightly.
I vividly recall the eerie silence of cities under lockdown, the controversial rules enforced overnight and the anxiety of venturing out for food shopping. As normal life shuttered abruptly, uncertainty pervaded everything.
My family and I hunkered down at home, glued to the news, braced for disaster. Yet the disaster kept spreading insidiously for months on end.
We rode waves of hope and despair—hope each time infections slowed, then despair as new variants emerged. Living under quarantine-style conditions, days blurred monotonously.
And yet, I witnessed humanity’s spirit shining too. On the frontlines, healthcare workers battled tirelessly to save lives. Beyond hospital walls, people reached out to neighbours in need.
Communities banded together, finding light despite the collective trauma. I was struck by the global solidarity in our shared predicament.
My memoir of 2020 and 2021 indelibly links the chaos of coronavirus with my personal journey into virtual art. Sometimes systemic shocks irrevocably transform us—as individuals and society. From collective crisis emerged lasting light.
I have written another blog post about the first Coronavirus lockdown in the UK in 2020, Covid Lockdown: My 100 Days Lockdown 2020 Experience.
This blog post continues to jot down some of the main events in 2020/2021 that I have come across.
What is Virtual Art?
Virtual art is a form of art that emerged at the end of the 1980s, characterised by the virtualisation of art through the use of technical media such as virtual reality, digital painting, sculpture and other computer programmes.
It allows viewers to immerse themselves in the artwork and interact with it through an interface of technical tools, erasing the distance between the artist, the viewer and the art piece itself.
Virtual art is a post-convergent art form that combines art and technology, offering a limitless and boundless medium for artistic expression. This form of art has evolved rapidly, from simple 8-bit representations to 3D models in popular video games and movies.
With the development of virtual reality tools, artists can now create sculptures, paintings and murals that are accessible to a wider audience.
The Online Virtual Art Explosion in 2020
For several years, we have been developing our “online virtual world” but we were still dragging our feet to make a jump into this new world. But within a short period of time of the first Coronavirus lockdown, online education almost became the norm.
Most businesses around the world transformed into online business operations. Probably more than half of the entire world’s workforce worked online. The cloud business has become a reality for the present and future. We all had to evolve.
So did the art industry. It was not by choice and it was not an afterthought, Coronavirus forced the art institutions to adopt an online virtual art system to provide access to exhibitions, events and education.
According to the Alliance of American Museums, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam had its lowest attendance since 1964. However, the museum experienced a 23% increase in the number of its social media followers and witnessed millions of unique visits to its website including its virtual collection.
With the move to online exhibitions, people were no longer restricted by geography, cost or time. They can view all the collections from the comfort of their chair. Online virtual art attendance became the norm in 2020.
I believe the art industry will continue to incorporate online systems as a way to connect to larger audiences even after the COVID lockdown and restrictions. The art industry has already attracted a large audience through online and social media.
Resilience Amidst Adversity: Humanity United Against Coronavirus
The year 2020 confronted us with one of the greatest challenges in modern memory. A novel virus that rapidly snowballed into a full-blown global health catastrophe. As the coronavirus pandemic’s shadow stretched far and wide, claiming lives and livelihoods, a blanket of mourning and unease descended upon the world.
For a period, it felt like we teetered on the brink, our healthcare infrastructure overwhelmed, economies paralysed, communities ravaged by loss.
And yet, even in those bleakest hours, the human spirit did not break – it shone. In true displays of courage, frontline workers fearlessly cared for the unwell, scientists tirelessly raced to develop vaccines and ordinary citizens banded together to support vulnerable groups.
From volunteering in neighbourhoods to donating to food banks, people demonstrated compassion and social conscience, despite their own hardships.
Global collaboration between medical experts led to record-fast vaccine breakthroughs. Across continents, a shared sense of duty and concern for collective well-being prevailed.
The pandemic thrust us into turbulence together – and together we persevered. This universal tragedy highlighted our interconnectedness like never before.
Faced with a common enemy virus, country boundaries vanished – we recognised our shared mortality and prized humanity.
United by grim circumstances, strangers became guardian angels for those struggling. And united by hope, we dreamed of emerging stronger from the rubble.
No doubt, COVID-19 dealt profound pain that will linger for generations. Yet during mankind’s darkest moments often arise our most inspiring and unifying.
The determined human spirit manifested as bright beacons guiding us through the stormy pandemic night. If anything, Coronavirus reaffirmed our resilience and reminded us we are always stronger together.
Notable Events in 2020/2021
Sean Connery
On 31 October 2020, Sean Connery died at the age of 90. Sir Sean was the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in films.
Diego Maradona
On 25 November 2020, Diego Maradona died of cardiac arrest at the age of 60. Maradona was known for scoring a goal with his hand during the Argentina v England quarter-final match of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. “The Hand of God” was a phrase used by Maradona to describe his goal.
The First Country to Approve COVID-19 Vaccine
On 2 December 2020, the UK became the first country to approve the new Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Enough was ordered to vaccinate 20 million people.
The First Person Vaccinated
On 8 December 2020, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.
UK Lockdown, again
On 4 January 2021, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. announced a third lockdown in England from 5 January.
Brexit Finally Happened
The UK left the EU officially on 31 January 2020, beginning a transition period that ended on 31 December 2020. Rules governing the new UK-EU relationship took effect from 1 January 2021.
The UK is the first and so far, the only country that has left the EU after 47 years of being a member of the EU.
The UK first joined the European Economic Community (EEC) on 1 January 1973, which was later renamed the European Union (EU).
Prince Harry and Meghan Interview
On 7 March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, appeared in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Duchess revealed her suicidal thoughts, racism by an unnamed family member and other concerns about the Royal Family.
Prince Philip
On 9 April 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth’s husband died at age 99, two months before his 100th birthday.
The Duke was the longest-serving royal consort in British history. His funeral took place on 17 April.
National Tea Day
National Tea Day began in 2016 and the date of 21 April was chosen because it is also Queen Elizabeth’s birthday.
A cup of tea is integral to British identity. According to surveys, it trails only water as the nation’s most popular drink.
This deep affinity has ripened over centuries of history since tea first arrived on England’s shores in the 1650s as a gift from China’s imperial court. Back then, only royalty and aristocrats could sample the exotic import.
That changed when Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess, married King Charles II in 1662, bringing several chests brimming with premium loose-leaf teas as part of her dowry trousseau.
The young queen happily introduced the royal household to afternoon tea drinking, a daily custom she had grown up with.
Soon, England’s high society circles were abuzz about this intriguing new beverage from the Far East. The upper crust began serving tea ceremonially in China teacups to flaunt newly acquired wealth.
Over the next two centuries, the beverage permeated all levels of English culture as prices dropped and availability grew.
The Dutchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, introduced afternoon tea during the late 1840s, which she shared with her friends.
Tea’s popularity boomed thanks to savvy marketing by the British tea company, Twinings. The brand revolutionised tea’s standing domestically by successfully positioning it as the sophisticated drink of choice.
These days, tea remains deeply embedded in British identity, conjuring images of quaint China teapots, dainty finger sandwiches and polite etiquette.
A cup of tea can signify everything from a welcome respite on a busy workday to a cherished weekend ritual. The nation even dedicates an entire week every August to afternoon tea. For tourists and locals alike, high tea in London is a bucket list rite of passage.
Remarkably, only Turkey and Ireland outpace the UK as leading global tea consumers.
Within Britain though, a far more controversial question endures – should one put milk in their cup before or after the tea? Don’t even mention teabags!
According to legend, milk first prevented cracking cheaper porcelain cups with scalding tea back when class dictated crockery quality. Centuries on, regional customs continue stirring up debate.
“Fancy a cuppa?” “Oh, I’d love one, please.”
One other interesting note about the word “tea” in Britain:
One peculiarity that often perplexes visitors to Britain concerns the ambiguous terminology surrounding the final meal of the day.
While Southern England consistently refers to this as “dinner”, Northern regions, Scotland and parts of Wales favour the term “tea” for the evening repast instead.
This culprit behind this confusing lexical divide?
It likely traces back to industrial era factory workers across the North and Midlands who called their early evening supper “tea” – hearkening back to the afternoon tea concept, even if the timing differed.
The label endured in these working-class communities, eventually becoming the prevailing regional norm for the last meal, regardless of the hour.
Even today, asking a Yorkshire or Scottish family what time they take “tea” would not raise eyebrows, despite it corresponding to dinnertime dining.
So while afternoon tea and high tea maintain distinct meanings across Britain, the evening meal definition of “tea” varies by geography. Foreign guests best clarify to avoid hungry miscommunications!
National Fish & Chip Day
On Friday 4th June 2021 was the celebration of National Fish and Chips Day in the UK.
The first Friday of June marks a beloved date in the UK’s cultural calendar – National Fish and Chips Day. This annual celebration pays homage to Britain’s quintessential take-away fare: freshly fried fish coated in crisp batter, alongside a heap of chunky chips (not French Fries!).
Dating back centuries, the original fish and chip shop allegedly emerged in 1860 in London’s East End. The concept of battered deep-fried fish paired with chipped and fried potato slices caught on rapidly.
As the Industrial Revolution progressed, proliferating factories and mills created a burgeoning working-class population. Hard labour required hearty, affordable sustenance. Enter the convenient local “chippy” – the neighbourhood fish and chips go-to providing piping hot, gratifying comfort food.
Especially by the early 1900s, fish and chip consumption skyrocketed. The meal defined the British working-class dinner experience. By 1910, some 25,000 fish and chip shops dotted towns nationally.
Come Friday payday, workers would excitedly line up in droves outside these beloved institutions for the perfect start to the weekend.
Even today, fish and chips remain a treasured part of the UK’s culinary tradition. Its nostalgia and sense of community perseveres, evoking memories of simpler times.
The National Edible Oil Distributors Association (NEODA) recently founded National Fish and Chips Day in 2015 to celebrate this cultural legacy.
Every year since, the first Friday of June sparks nationwide festivities from London to Liverpool, bringing folks together through this iconic national dish.
Fish and chips retains its status as the UK’s favourite takeaway, universally enjoyed regardless of age, class or background. Clearly, this centuries-old staple holds a special place in British hearts – and stomachs!
UEFA Euro 2020 Final
On 11 July 2021, Italy won the UEFA, or simply Euro, 2020 final after England lost 3-2 on penalties. It was England’s first Euro final appearance.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Euro 2020 football tournament emerged as a beacon of hope – a long-awaited return to beloved sporting events after endless months of lockdowns.
Originally scheduled from mid-June to July 2020, the championship got postponed as Coronavirus disrupted major gatherings globally. But officials ingeniously opted to retain the name Euro 2020, eager to hold onto a symbolic sense of normalcy.
The tournament eventually kicked off in the summer of 2021, sparking fierce competition between 24 talented European teams vying to seize the coveted trophy.
Defending champions Portugal, led by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, aimed for another victory after their triumphant 2016 win against France. Tragically, their journey ended prematurely this round with a disappointing round 16 ejection by top-ranked Belgium’s powerhouse squad.
As the final matchup took shape, England fans scarcely dared dream that their home team would advance given decades of past letdowns. But the young English squad defied expectations, harnessing their boisterous fans’ cheers to reach the finals.
Across English pubs and stadiums, the catchy soccer anthem “Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)” rang out, echoing hopes that victory could finally return to the nation that birthed football.
Its lyrics “It’s coming home, it’s coming home!” epitomised English romantic longing for the World Cup glory of 1966.
Alas, a bittersweet ending awaited at Wembley. While England shone in their first-ever Euro finals appearance, Italy narrowly clinched the championship title after penalty shootouts. Still, Euro 2020 represented England’s strongest tournament showing in recent memory – and a stirring taste of pre-pandemic festivities returning at last.
Freedom Day – 19 July 2021
On 19 July 2021, most legal COVID restrictions were lifted in England as part of “Freedom Day”.
After 16 arduous months of lockdowns and restrictions governing daily life, “Freedom Day” sparked euphoria across England.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, confirmed the lifting of virtually all remaining legal coronavirus restrictions – from mandatory masks to social distancing. It marked a radical, hard-won moment symbolising a long-awaited return to normalcy for the nation’s pandemic-weary citizens.
The reopening represented hope on the horizon after four gruelling lockdowns plunged England’s economy and public morale to the brink.
With the resilient roll-out of widespread vaccination programmes earlier in 2021, Johnson’s government gambled on a bold move towards pre-pandemic living by summertime in an effort to accelerate economic and societal recovery.
And so, as 19th July dawned, scenes of jubilation unfolded. Nightclubs flung open their doors to partygoers for the first time in over a year. Stadiums and theatres resuscitated live events at full capacity.
With masks deemed personal preference rather than compulsory, smiles emerged from behind face coverings. Commuter trains filled up as workers headed back to offices in city centres.
The milestone marked a major turning point in the pandemic fight. While the Prime Minister cautioned the public not to “throw caution to the wind,” excitement for the regained freedoms was palpable across restaurants, shops and public spaces.
Families reunited in homes without number limits on guests or social bubbles. Some restrictions persisted around travel quarantines and self-isolation policies, but England’s reopening indicated a defined path out of the pandemic for good.
For those who suffered lockdown-amplified loneliness, job losses or mental health impacts, Freedom Day fostered optimism and relief.
Critics argued the relaxation was premature given new variants circulating, but Johnson remained adamant that vaccination success combined with citizens’ common sense could prevent reversion to tougher restrictions.
Only time would tell whether England’s grand reopening gamble would pay off by sustaining virus suppression while resuscitating a battered economy and society.
Tokyo Olympic Games 2020
The Summer Olympics ran from 23 July to 8 August 2021 after being postponed due to COVID-19. The games had no public spectators.
The world gazed eagerly towards Tokyo in the summer of 2021 as the rescheduled 32nd Olympiad burst into action a full year after its postponement.
Initially set for July 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had forced Olympic officials to make the unprecedented decision to delay the games by 12 months – the first such disruption since World War II darkened the 1940 and 1944 competitions.
After a tortuous wait, Olympic fever finally erupted on 23rd July 2021 with a poignant opening ceremony held before rows of empty seats. While 11,000 athletes were ready for competition, extreme prevention measures barred even domestic fans from attending events as Japan battled severe coronavirus surges.
For the first time ever, the Olympics transformed into a spectator-free spectacle, with only reporters and volunteers onsite.
Still, the show went on without further delays.
Billions globally tuned in via broadcasts and followed online as records shattered and new stars were born.
These pandemic games will forever be etched as an anomaly – the muted Olympics navigating profound loss and uncertainty worldwide while showcasing the incredible human potential to persevere.
Conclusion: Virtual Art During Coronavirus
As we continue grazing the second year of the pandemic era, I’m endlessly awed reflecting on the exponential growth in virtual art spawned from 2020’s lockdown necessity.
With physical venues indefinitely shuttered early on, the rapid migration online seemed the only way forward to sustain creative connections.
What transpired as artists, institutions and audiences alike pivoted digital surpassed all expectations. An entire ecosystem bloomed virtually overnight, from 3D interactive exhibits to augmented reality collaborations fuelling boundary-pushing innovation.
As the world hunkered down, the art world opened up – transcending geographical and economic limitations like never before.
While the production of traditional mediums undeniably weathered challenges, online virtual art exploded in the isolation crucible, forever changing how we experience and engage art.
Over a year later, online journeys into creative spaces are here to stay, complementing the restored physical offerings as we move into a post-pandemic future.
The pandemic propelled a virtual creative revolution revealing digital art’s extraordinary promise. Yet the picture is not complete.
I’d love to hear your reflections on this artistic flight into the digital realm.
Did virtual art nourish your spirits in difficult moments?
What online creative encounters resonated most meaningfully for you?
Feel free to comment with lockdown art experiences or thoughts as we memorialise this period of history forever linking coronavirus and the ascendant age of virtual art.
During the lockdown, I spent most of my time creating my abstract paintings and writing several blog posts, including:
What Do People See in Abstract Painting
