The lockdown has thrown lots of challenges at us. A challenge to beat the pandemic, a challenge to revive our society, and to keep an upbeat spirit. Most of us have our own ways of doing this. Some meditate, some exercise, some pick up a hobby. But for some artists and illustrators, this is the time to unleash their creativity and contribute to the mental wellbeing of society. Keeping this is in mind, Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, a Kolkata-based graphic novelist and illustrator, has come up with a unique creation that uses the shape of the coronavirus and gives it a twist.He has used different comic book characters and superheroes to bring focus on the real-life superheroes who are fighting this deadly virus daily. What was his inspiration behind the illustration, we ask him. “Given the current situation, the best thing we can do to remain positive is to see the good things that are around us in spite of the agony and heartbreak. I like comics, and so naturally, superheroes, from different domains and comic houses, fall under my radar. But during this ‘corona-ry disorder’ we are all going through, we still have superheroes around us — the doctors and nurses, the police, media and many more. They are our Spider-men, Wolverines and Hellboy. They were the inspiration,” he said.
This illustration is part of an initiative to encourage creative professionals to think positively during the crisis. “My friend Uttaran Chaudhuri (creative director of an ad firm) suggested that we artists do something creative and literally, ‘go viral to stop the virus’. Or at least alleviate the depression it has caused. He asked me to think of something positive we can do, or think of, that will look at the current crisis in a way that steers our mind in a positive direction,” Harsho explained.
He also stressed on the need of the creative community to stay together and look at the bright side in these troubled times. “I would like to tell fellow artists to stay positive, hope for the best and keep up the good work that you do. Keep drawing, keep ideating, keep colouring. Our real-life superheroes will devise a solution to the corona problem soon and help us get back to normal life,” he signed off.
— Srijoy Mukherjee
Source: Times of India
