My Corona Diary: amusing adaptations of classical portraits to our pandemic times by Sabine Pigalle

September 14, 2020

In the whimsical world of Sabine Pigalle’s “My Corona Diary”, the boundaries of history and present-day life blur, drawing audiences into a vibrant blend of irony and parody. This series acts as both a mirror and a lens, reflecting our current reality while giving us a fresh perspective. Pigalle brilliantly takes inspiration from classical portraits by old masters and reimagines them, juxtaposing these historical figures with the quirks and eccentricities of pandemic life. Imagine a stoic noblewoman donning a flamboyant face mask or a solemn gentleman glued to his smartphone as he navigates the surreal landscape of lockdown. Through her humorous lens, Pigalle allows us to laugh at the bizarre adaptations we’ve made collectively in response to an unprecedented global health crisis.

Beyond the playful juxtaposition, Pigalle’s work captures a deeper emotional undercurrent that resonates with many. Her portrayal invites us to find levity amid chaos, offering a much-needed catharsis from anxiety and uncertainties. By transforming these iconic masterpieces into pandemic tableaux, she injects them with vitality and relevance, invigorating the conversation about public health, society, and our collective mentalities. Her distinct use of black humor and earthy comic style not only entertains but also serves as a poignant resistance against the pervasive gloom of our times. In essence, “My Corona Diary” is not just a collection of visual puns but a demonstration of the resilience of the human spirit, encouraging us to confront our fears with a hearty laugh and an irrepressible sense of hope.

In line with her visual vocabulary, the artist recycled the paintings of the old masters by placing them in our daily lives, putting them in touch with new habits and practices linked to Covid19. The burlesque, often ironic tone works like a catharsis aimed at combating with laughter the painful situation of anxiety and doubts about the future. (“Humor is the politeness of despair”). The earthiness of the comic style and black humor makes fun of the absurdity of the situations engendered by this crisis, and this language is basically a form of resistance to the climate of heavy uncertainty, in the face of a collective test involving, in addition, the question of public health, the economy, the social, mentalities.
Sabine Pigalle

More info: Website, Instagram (h/t: Lustik).