Talisay City, Cebu
Street doodle art, which is often a neglected yet profound form of art, shows the current situation and experiences of Filipinos in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: from the demand of mass testing to the request of the health workers for time out; from the struggle of most Filipino learners to accessible internet connection for the new school year; from the rise of online selling to survive from the loss of jobs; and from the use of tuob or steam inhalation to the ostrich on the loose (which eventually became a metaphor of our unconscious desire to free ourselves from this lockdown).
These chaotic images from the nation, and other nations around the world, are just one of the effects of what we have neglected, and somehow normalized: over-capitalism, a subsistent global healthcare system, and an impending ecological crisis. When this crisis, which brought the world to its knees, passes, there will be a hope that we will never be the same again.
About the Author
Dominic Matthew S. Ricardo was born and raised in the City of Talisay, Cebu. He finished his Senior High School at University of San Jose – Recoletos, and currently enrolled in Fine Arts (Studio Arts) in University of the Philippines – Cebu. He finished short online courses on illustrating comics, character design, and doodles. He is currently working on his first graphic novel.