Writing Challenge Day 9

Mieke van den Berg, Quiescence, 2020. Plaster bandages and thread

Quiescence

Weirdly enough, there was not much upheaval for us when the entire planet hit the panic buttons in 2019, and everyone was forced to live in captivity. Even under house arrest, we could not have been more free. How proud and relieved I felt to have unshackled myself from the clutches of my oppressor.

When the lockdown was broadcast through the speakers of our televisions and laptops, all I could think of were the countless women now imprisoned with their tormentors. There would be nowhere to hide, constant anxiety, muffled screams. Even though these poor victims had no escape, I hoped they were building up the courage to flee their captors as soon as the chains of the lockdown were removed.

In contrast to some of my friends, who were packed into tiny apartments in the middle of London with three kids under five, we had the comfort of a spacious home with an undercover area and backyard. Having dogs allowed us access to our beautiful parks and small lakes at the end of the street. These walks were a welcome relief from homeschooling my brood. We lasted three months before deciding to let go of structured learning. We focused on Maths and English and let life be our teacher. We baked, puzzled, played games, gardened, crafted, painted, and camped in the backyard.

I detested the mandatory masks, but they were a minor inconvenience when you think about it. I only needed to wear one every two weeks for grocery shopping. The worst was finding the TP shelves empty again. Really??? Do people eat that stuff or something? I still can’t wrap my head around the siege of the shelves. The toilet paper crisis was bigger than the pandemic. It was utterly insane.

Not everyone was so fortunate to work from home, and the majority of employees lost their incomes. The cost of living was already on the rise, and with increased interest rates, being able to pay the mortgage became increasingly difficult for just about every homeowner. I had been putting extra into my mortgage just in case of a situation like this. All I needed was a mortgage health check, and I concluded I would be good for at least two years if I had no income.

Fortunately, I was already receiving jobseeker payments due to my circumstances. My fellow creatives, however, were not so lucky. The government had left a tick box off the Jobseeker application forms for the entire arts sector, leaving 850,000 amazing creatives who contributed $115.8 billion to the Australian economy—with an average income 26% below the average workforce—without a paycheck. These same artists kept creating and delivering inspiring material, connecting us to the outside world, making us feel understood, and keeping us somewhat sane.

Among all the chaos, the kangaroos reclaimed their habitat on the University grounds as the hustle and bustle of student life abruptly stopped. Birdsong, rustling leaves, and the fluttering flag replaced the once-fiery debates, lectures, and discussions. The Universities took some time to create an online learning platform, and students gradually transitioned to virtual classes. I felt particularly sorry for the art students without access to their on-campus studios. There was no change for me, as my degree through Open Universities Australia was entirely online, and I had a fully equipped studio. Still, I couldn’t fathom why the Universities couldn't adopt the same online delivery system sooner. It took, I believe, six months before students could resume their studies.

A much-needed sense of calm and appreciation for nature's stillness returned to our home. Then, the most beautiful occurrence: a kaleidoscope of butterflies engulfed the Sunshine Coast. Blue tiger butterflies...free….. like clouds in the sky, covering trees everywhere. I had never seen anything like it. The state of rest is called quiescence, which they do before they migrate north. How amazing. It provided a plethora of inspiration for my art, resulting in a stunning body of work and a grade to match my efforts.

After the initial reaction to being exposed to so much trauma, we managed to refocus and appreciate what we had and what we could control. We counted ourselves lucky that we didn’t have to make any major adjustments to our lives. We didn’t lose any friends or family, and none of us contracted this monstrous, evil virus. We used the situation as an opportunity to rest, connect, and grow. It turned out to be a blissful experience for us.

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