covid19

Pandemia

Flower on the sidewalk – 2020 – Luciana Mariano ©

Strange times.

We believed to be the alpha species on this planet but we look the other way for a second and there we are, fragile, scared, subject to a tiny teeny virus. And no, it was not a little flu. It was a wake up call to make humans understand the kind of society we have become. We are predators, vicious, egocentric, primitive, violent beings and we take pride on destroying our own planet. Earth is trying to get rid of us. The few of us that can have the luxury of staying in a safe and decent home, with food, peace and comfort, don’t care about the vast majority of vulnerables, who are exposed to despair, hunger and death. Let’s face it: We are no good.

We are still sitting around, thinking about our next vacations and acquisitions, we are still worried about what kind of phone and car we can conquer before our neighbour, not realising the bigger message this weird times are trying to imprint on us. It is time for awakening. It is time to understand that there is no Planet B and if we don’t start behaving in a more conscious, sustainable and holistic way, the planet will succeed on getting rid of us and, before the new dawn, nature will take over again, seeking back it’s balance. We don’t own the planet, it owns us.

Well done Earth! I am on your side.

It was about time, we needed to be stopped, so new flowers could start blooming again on our sidewalks.

Serviços essenciais


“Barbearia/Barbershop” – 25×30 – acrylics on canvas – 2020 – disponível/available – LM (c)

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Things that used to be important, suddenly, are no longer as essencial, but many didn’t realize it yet. Society has been so sick, so ill, that it took a real pandemia to make people take five and repurpose their existence. No, those shoes were not what would make you happy. The beauty must be beyond the hair cut, or there is not much to be shown, anyway. 

Even though many are confined in quarantine, most still didn’t realize the real cure they should submit themselves to. People are going crazy inside their homes, but they were going crazy out there too. Most cant stand to stand in front of the mirror, in silence. The voice of their closed ones, so near, may sound like terrifying screams from a horror movie. Some people desperately miss their slaving routine of corporate work because they rather be consumerist robots in the capitalist society than interact emotionally with their own spouses, children, family. People are going crazy because many are now being forced to look at their own four mouldy walls. Some are extremely lonely, others are lonely inside of their crowded households. We are all lonely and sick predators, killing the planet, our fellow men, ourselves. The virus is doing a favor for many. Others are so scared that they rather be in denial and pretend nothing is happening. We are all looking for normality in a world and society that couldn’t be further away from normality. Reality is tough and rough. We are shallow, we cherish our Blahniks, Vuittons and hair cuts more than we cherish solidarity, health, humanity, peace. Will we ever change? Sure we will. But by now, for many, hair style is more important than existence itself.
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Coisas que costumavam ser importantes, de repente, não são mais tão essenciais, apesar de muitos ainda não se darem conta. A sociedade está tão doente, tão descompensada, que foi necessário uma verdadeira pandemia para levar as pessoas a pensar e redefinir sua existência. Não, esses sapatos não eram o que faria você feliz. A beleza deve estar além do corte do cabelo ou, de qualquer maneira, não haverá muito a ser mostrado.

Embora muitos estejam confinados em quarentena, a maioria ainda não percebeu a verdadeira cura à qual deveriam se submeter. As pessoas estão ficando loucas dentro de suas casas, mas elas também estavam loucas lá fora. A maioria não suporta ficar de pé diante do espelho, em silêncio. A voz de seus próximos, tão de perto, podem parecer gritos terríveis de um filme de terror. Algumas pessoas sentem falta desesperada de sua rotina escrava do trabalho corporativo porque preferem ser robôs consumistas da sociedade capitalista do que interagir emocionalmente com seus próprios cônjuges, filhos e família. As pessoas estão ficando loucas porque muitas agora estão sendo forçadas a olhar para suas próprias quatro paredes mofadas. Alguns estão extremamente solitários, outros são solitários dentro de suas próprias casas, lotadas. Somos todos predadores solitários e doentes, matando o planeta, nossos semelhantes, a nós mesmos. O vírus está fazendo um favor para muitos. Outros têm tanto medo que preferem negar a realidade e fingir que nada está acontecendo. Estamos todos buscando a normalidade em um mundo e sociedade que não poderiam estar mais longe da normalidade. A realidade é dura e difícil. Somos superficiais, valorizamos nossos Blaniks, Vuittons e progressivas mais do que valorizamos solidariedade, saúde, humanidade, paz. Mudaremos alguma dia? Claro que sim. Mas agora, para muitos, o estilo do cabelo é mais importante que a própria existência.