As the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic draws near, many are wondering what the future has in store. As we start to imagine the Great After, we’re filled with nervous excitement and anxiety about what post-pandemic life will look like. And this trepidation ranges from the pedestrian to the existential. Will my attempts at small talk be awkward and off-putting? Will I be able to return to the office, and do I even want to? Is there even a normal to return to when so much has already been lost?
Artist and educator Tomer Hanuka gave his third-year illustration students at the School of Visual Arts in New York City an unusual assignment to explore what the post-pandemic world would look like. Each student had to design a cover for The New Yorker magazine, which is famous for its stunning, evocative, and often controversial cover art.
I’ve asked my 3rd year illustration students at @sva to come up with a post-pandemic New Yorker magazine cover. Here is what they sent in:
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
In response, the students delivered a breathtaking range of covers. Some tap into the cautious optimism of post-pandemic life, while others emphasize the lingering grief and trauma of the coronavirus. As different as the themes of the covers are, they are all uniquely stunning in their concept and execution.
Lauren V pic.twitter.com/XgXYaPZ7Mw
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Milly Wen pic.twitter.com/uYdVgr12gd
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Penni Xiaoyi Peng pic.twitter.com/Im4Rv4GKQA
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Yushan Zhou pic.twitter.com/KjL1tgwrzW
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Katrina Catacutan pic.twitter.com/z0jN0nHV7g
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Jungwoo Lee pic.twitter.com/uiWL5C1QHl
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Jane McIlvaine pic.twitter.com/ifl1YGTQ28
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Dou Hong pic.twitter.com/zf4ocFRpfb
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
Amy young pic.twitter.com/A0i9bCSbA9
— Tomer Hanuka (@tropical_toxic) April 23, 2021
The works not only showcase the talents of Hanuka’s class, but each one tells its own unique story. The fear and hope are palpable in each cover, and you may find yourself tearing up at several of the works. Many took to Twitter to praise the covers:
What’s incredible about seeing these as a collective is that you see the complexity of COVIDs affect- some are hopeful, some ruminate on our place in the environment, some focus on the Lynchian-ness of it all, and some are heartbreaking. They are personal, yet utterly universal.
— Boony Boon (@boony_boon) April 24, 2021
This collection of covers almost feels like they should be featured in a museum exhibit when you put it that way. An archived collection of a cultural moment that will reverberate through the future.
— That One Chick #BLM (@idesofjeweleye) April 24, 2021
When we talk about the art and pop culture made during the pandemic, we often focus on the films and television series that attempted to capture the moment, with varying degrees of success. Many of us question whether there is even an audience or an appetite for pandemic-themed art.
But whether we want it or not, this kind of art is a necessary part of our cultural catharsis. It’s an acknowledgement that we have all gone through a global shared trauma. It’s especially critical as several politicians and talking heads have repeatedly tried to ignore, dismiss, or downplay the severity of this global mass death event. Our experiences with it vary from person to person, but it’s deeply important to recognize and remember what we’ve lived through. Because of course, so many aren’t here to do the same.
This is the stunning and transformative power of art, and this is what these students have accomplished. I can’t wait to see what they do next.
(via Twitter, image: JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
