Cless is an artist based in Valladolid, Spain.
TWS – How are you doing in this Covid-19 pandemic?
C –Luckily I’m fine, I’m in my mother’s care. I live with some concern for her well-being since she is a person at risk because of her age and health problems but fortunately she is also well like the rest of my family.
I try to be aware of the situation and act with the utmost caution for her sake, for everyone’s sake. The first few days of confinement were not much different from my day-to-day life, mostly because of my routine, but it is different not wanting to go out and not being able to go out because of uncertainty. Right now, 41 days of confinement are being noticed and the mood is getting heavier, not seeing a clear/near goal can limit your strengths. It’s a matter of attitude, I know, but there are days that are beyond you.
TWS –Are you being able to telecommute / work from home?
C –I usually work from home although one of the projects I do annually with my city council has been postponed just before its inauguration because of the pandemic. The spaces have been forced to close for security reasons and the meetings, mass gatherings, exhibitions, workshops and talks have been cancelled for security reasons as well. The rest of the projects I can do from home although at the moment the desire is not the same.
TWS –Did the lock-down affected your creativity and art making? How?
C –It’s stopped it in its tracks. I thought it was my thing, something temporary. Talking to more people, friends and family, I found that many of us were in that situation. It just blocks me, I don’t feel like doing anything. It’s not procrastinating, it’s another level, I wouldn’t know how to define it. Maybe asthenia? … next level. It’s not every day, but I’ve been in this situation for several days in a row. I haven’t lost creativity; I’ve lost the desire to do things. I insist, it’s not every day and I know it’s temporary but I also know that this f*king shit has already changed a lot of things and we’ll have to start again, learn again and re-educate ourselves.
TWS –Are you able to track positive moments or things that happened during this crisis so far?
C –The first thing that comes to my mind is perhaps: less pollution; more time in common or with the family, whoever can or has it; a lot of time for oneself to be able to develop things or pending projects… But I am more aware of the help of so many people, from all the staff in hospitals and residences to the transporters and small shops in the neighbourhood who thanks to their effort and courage we can continue to be cared for and fed. There are many people who lack this and it has been incredible to see how the help has grown so much in these last weeks. Thank you!
TWS – What’s the first thing you would like to do when we can get back to normal?
C –I’d like to go to London and get lost in your second-hand bookstores. I’d like to wander aimlessly through its streets again, it’s something that fills me. I know it’s going to be hard to do soon.
If I can, I’ll go to the Burgos’s Trasmonte to visit my buddy Ruben B. I want to lose track of the time there, forget about everything, disconnect. I want to walk and talk face to face, and not through a mobile phone; restart and for a few days forget about everything including Covid19 although I know I will talk about it again on walks in the countryside.
And of course, I want to see and hug strongly my family and friends.
Love and encouragement for all!
