New Norms
COVID-19 affected us all.
In 2022, as the Caribbean region began to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Caribbean youths told their stories through art.
Their pieces, their wholes, strengths, fears and hopes are showcased here.
Collections
Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic
"Go Away COVID!"
water colours and washable markers
Kiston D | 14 years | Jamaica
"Miracle In Music"
acrylic paint
Alyssa J | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
During the Covid-19 pandemic I found it hard. It was very abrupt and no-one could have foreseen what we would be like today; that we would need to be cautious around the ones we loved, that we would have to stay inside for almost an entire year and stay away from all the people we would have loved and cared for who passed away. During this time I found great comfort in music. During the pandemic I found it hard to deal with my emotions, like if I was sad I didn't know how to express it, and there was a point that I felt helpless, like there was nothing I could do but feel sad or just feel like there was a huge void in my heart. But music helped. Music has made it easier to cope with my emotions. The different songs I listen to would have to fit in with my emotions- if I was sad there was a song that I could relate to, if I was happy there was a song I could relate to, if I was anxious there was a song I could relate to. So my piece is to show how I coped with the COVID-19 pandemic through music and I think music saved my life.
"Protecting Us From COVID"
coloured pencils
Caoimhe B | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus ran rampant among our streets, in the air, on surfaces at every turn, not even an umbrella could have protected us but a mask, gloves and washing our hands frequently prevented us from, as they said, "Catching the COVID".
"Lifeline"
paint, pencil and crayons on paper
Jeadin J | 12 years | Grenada
"Trapped"
acrylic paint
Milan A | 15 years | Trinidad and Tobago
My art piece was made to represent how trapped I felt during the COVID period. The cage represented the house which we could not leave during State Of Emergency unless absolutely necessary. Many people suffered with depression and other mental illnesses during this period. I felt he pressure of taking the vaccine because at a point it was almost like we did not have a choice. That's the reason for the syringe surrounding the cage.
"Lost and Found Hope"
coloured pencils and markers
Mykah P | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
The piece meant that during COVID-19, I was broken and felt restricted to the sickness in the air but after it passed, a new season of hope for me was born which explains the flowers since they wilt and die but new flowers are created.
My Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic
"Loneliness"
coloured pencils
Rahul P | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece is about our past experiences during the pandemic and is a representation of the things we could not have done because of it.
"Trapped"
graphite pencils on paper
Aliya V | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
My piece conveys the struggle I had to go through during the pandemic which made me feel trapped, both physically and emotionally. I used graphite pencils to create this piece and I chose to not use colour to show the seriousness of what I felt.
"Bloom Anyway"
Ohuhu markers and paint pens
Ava V | 11 years | Trinidad & Tobago
I used coloured pens and markers to create this piece that shows the feeling of being boxed in during the pandemic. It was hard, but I had to concentrate on finding the positives and finding ways to grow and develop anyway, in spite of how hard things were. It was very hard for me to do online school and to be away from my friends. I felt very isolated.
"Uncertainty Amidst Crisis"
pen and ink with watercolours
Yejide F | 15 years | Trinidad and Tobago
The road represents the pathway through the pandemic which is surrounded by dense, dark forest. This forest does not have a clear route through it, while the yellow in the forest represents the glimmer of hope that is surrounded by endless hopelessness. The years heading out of the forest on the road which widens, signifies that it seems that the pandemic is never ending. “As of midnight tonight!” These spoken words triggered fear and anxiety of the unknown. These emotions are expressed through the technique of cross-hatching that is used on the road and the individuals on the journey. Also, the cross- hatching used here represents confusion… not knowing where to go or what to do under the circumstances. The pointing of the finger as a warning and the crossing of the arms, biting of nails and the expression of fear, all show the overwhelming response of individuals especially teens during this time.
Teenage Stress
coloured pencils
The stress experienced while learning during the pandemic as a Seconadry School student preparing for examinations.
Faith W | Age 16 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"Pandemic Through My Eyes"
watercolour paint and pen and ink
Greer G | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
I created this piece to bring awareness of the struggles that many of us faced during the pandemic, and how alot of us felt confined to our homes.
"19th Dimension of Isolation"
coloured pencils and markers
Kayode L | age 16 years | Trinidad & Tobago
19th Dimension of Isolation is the mind and situation of a 16 year old boy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It speaks of a sense of isolation and separation from the rest of the world. and from his daily form of communication with anything else. It speaks of the items he would use to save himself from the contraction of the COVID-19 virus.
Serenity
pencil and coloured pencil
Kai B | age 15 years| Trinidad and Tobago
This abstract piece is a minimal and artistic representation of two main components in the COVID-19 experience, (toilet paper and hand sanitiser), also including the Trinidad and Tobago national colours into the artwork.
Untitled
Milan A | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
The inspiration for my piece was hearing all the news of suicides... also talking to my friends and hearing them talk about their mental health.
"COVID Blues"
coloured pencils
Naomi J | 17 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece is entitled "COVID Blues" and was done with colored pencils. A girl in her early 20s who appears to be hiding from the COVID-19 Virus inside her home is seen in the drawing. She is battling with the COVID-19 pandemic, and it shows in her melancholy emotion as she stands beside the window looking at a reflection of herself if she were to be outside during this time. She now has to adjust to hiding herself and becoming terrified if someone coughs or sneezes around her.
Our Demise
coloured pencils and markers
Andreen S | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This is a depiction of the various challenges persons may have been and may still be facing over the course of the pandemic, such as family loss, and mental difficulties. The use of a variety of colours was to show the lack of stability in a sense, as no particular scheme of colours was used.
paint on paper
Leanne B | 17 years | Grenada
"Quarantine"
coloured pencil and markers
Jxaviea P | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Watching your room and nowhere to go. Bed is made-up, the room is clean, COVID infomercials during quarantine.
pencil on paper
Nubya R | 13 years | Grenada
"The Keys to Success"
pencil and coloured pencils
Annaya B | 16 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece represents the pressure of trying to guarantee success whilst struggling to adapt to online schooling.
The Inside View
acylic paint and markers
Covid 19 forced us to stay indoors. This enabled us to gain a different perspective and appreciation of the world as we viewed it from Inside our homes.
Simoi W | 12 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"Life Inside"
coloured pencils
Kester B | 16 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece expresses the emotion felt during the pandemic, awaiting time to pass by since the outside world was dangerous, consequently trapping us inside.
"Pandemic"
coloured pencils and markers
Malachi J | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece shows the effect of the pandemic in the lives of children.
"What I did during COVID"
pencil and pen on paper
Adalira S | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"Cannot Find My Way"
watercolours and markers
Faith A | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
During COVID time a lot of things were going on and it really affected my mental health, and it became worse when my grandfather died. I felt lost and emotionally and physically drained. This was the inspiration for my piece.
"Dark Times"
pencil on paper
Kristina H | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
COVID 19 had a negative impact on so many persons. It was a dark time for many. No social interaction, no school, protests, falling economy, death and even the cure seem like an evil.
"Confined"
pencil and coloured pencils
Jaylon B | age 18 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece depicts being trapped in a cage, yet inside, it's colorful and vibrant. Meanwhile, on the outside there were countless catastrophes occurring to the point where it even infiltrated my home/cell.
"COVID At Home"
acrylic paint
Maliha B | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece depicts my life during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown. It is made with acrylic paint on canvas.
"My COVID-19 Pandemic Piece"
digital art
Annabelle A | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
I used a digital app called Ibis paint x on my phone to make this and then I used a mono type brush for the line art of it and then for the rest, I used a water type brush.
"My Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic"
digital art
Dominique F | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"Walking in COVID Infested Streets"
digital art
Nia-Marie R | 16 years | Trinidad & Tobago
The piece is a digital drawing, depicting the experience in an exaggerated sense of what it feels like to walk in streets infested with COVID 19, whilst also showing the effects of how COVID impacted the world, cancelling events, the sudden need of cleaning supplies and lack of toilet paper. The inspiration for the piece was an apocalyptic rundown town with a retro aesthetic using mainly the colours red and blue.
"All Alone During COVID"
pencil, pencil crayons, cartridge papers, watercolours
Christina C | 12 years | Jamaica
"Once Upon A Normal"
watercolours and markers
Lisette F | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece reflects a main thought I had during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had an online graduation, did not get to go in the mall with my friends and spent over a year of my new school life online. During that time I felt blue as shown on the colour of me in the dark room but eventually I was able to get over it.
"COVID Overlord"
pencil on paper
Mykah P | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
My piece is inspired by how I really felt about how my life was during the COVID-19 pandemic. My chosen art form was in pencil, or you can say in black and white. I named my piece "COVID Overlord" because I love superhero movies and COVID was my enemy. The woman on the floating throne represents COVID's creator since her power is creating sickness. She is seen on her throne cackling and swinging the keys to the cages. The two prisoners are looking at her with tears in their eyes. They are treated like actual prisoners in jail. The globe above the prisoner, Lucia, represents the different countries that have been affected by the minions and those that weren't hit yet. A tiny COVID minion is seen on the stairs to the throne, holding a mask towards the other prisoner, Mykah aka me. This represents the new order of wearing a mask and it wasn't voluntary. The syringe that's dripping liquid, is also hinting towards a vaccine. During COVID, the three main things that were taken away from me were my freedom, my family and my health. That's why they were chained up on the side of COVID, above her sickness, disease and illness-spreading minions. Without those three, it's hard to cope or even survive. That's why I wanted to make a point about how people truly do feel about COVID, especially us children. We children were affected by COVID as well, so we have a right to express how COVID has changed our lives.
"Happy Germ"
crayons on paper
Elise A | 9 years | Trinidad & Tobago
I used crayons and copy paper. COVID is an ugly virus that makes me feel mad. I missed my friends and school. I feel that COVID 19 is happy to kill people. This makes me mad too.
"Hurricane COVID"
pencil and pen on paper
Gerlanda C | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This art piece's goal was to give off how I felt during the COVID 19 pandemic onto the viewer, where I am on this long inevitable journey through Hurricane COVID in order to return to life before COVID and the darkest hurricane clouds showing what affected me the most during the pandemic. I have included all that Trinidad and Tobago and other countries would have went through nations during the COVID pandemic. I opted to use a pencil and pen to do this piece because of the colours and how little they would have been used during the pandemic because of online school. Finally, at the end of the road, I have what I would like to be the end of the road after this hurricane. However, life would not be the same as it was before COVID 19.
"Two Sides of A Story"
coloured pencils on paper
Jayda-Marie J | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Avionne Moore | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Sheldon Whight | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Alevia Rae Daniel | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Ijahnna Mendoza | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Damani David | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Barry Gangan | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Joshua Guytan | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Kelon Lewis | 9 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Jaleel Newton | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Renee Dyer | 9 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Anushka W | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Keoni H | 12 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Luke C | 10 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Adrille P | 12 years | Trinidad and Tobago
Trevello H | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
My Mental Health During the C-19 Pandemic
"Maze of Thoughts"
acrylic paint, pen, and sealant on canvas
Renhei C | 16 years | Trinidad & Tobago
A mixed media painting (on a flat canvas) using grey tones for the skin, pen ink for the hair/thoughts and sealant which gives it a glossy touch along with keeping the details intact. This painting represents my personal thoughts and the way of thinking that a person going through depression and anxiety during a pandemic would have. The black symbolizes how a person's mental state can slowly turn dark when they don't know how to deal with stress and they are isolated within themselves.
"My Mental Health During COVID"
chalk pastels on paper
Xaria L | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
I used chalk pastels to create the piece. It's based on the main things that were most important to me during the pandemic, which were masks and social distancing. I also added the fear of getting the virus.
"Mental Jail"
coloured pencils and markers
Life during covid students were not able leave the house while in online school. At the same time, feeling locked up behind the computer.
Jamal A | age 17 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Untitled
Caris M | Age 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"My COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Journey"
watercolor paint, brush markers, poster paint, Sharpie markers
Caris M | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This piece shows the pressure and struggle of how it was going through this COVID-19 pandemic. It shows some of the things we all probably experienced. The piece focuses on the mental part or strain on young people like myself who experienced the pandemic in a negative way. The background should have had a color but it's made to look jumbled in a way to have the people watching kept captivated and interested to keep looking and analyzing the piece. It could have been bigger to fit more but in the piece she's having all these thoughts running through her mind about COVID-19, overthinking you could say.
"The Stress"
mixed media
Maria R | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This artwork shows the struggles I went through during the pandemic. My main inspiration for this artwork was online school because it was difficult at times and made me stressed out. I really enjoyed drawing this piece especially since I expressed my feelings during the pandemic.
"In the Dark Corners It Waits"
digital media
Myrae M | 15 years | Trinidad & Tobago
The entity is a personification of the worst parts of my mental state, during and after the pandemic. The person is representative of how I mentally, emotionally and physically feel. I can't exactly describe the physical part of it, it's more of a pressure-like feeling.
"Trapped in the Dark"
digital art
Kiara B | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
I used an app called ibisPaint x to create my art piece. My work reflects how I felt during the pandemic. With less physical interaction with the ones I loved, I felt empty and plain inside. My art piece reflects on how I felt, from the facial expression, to the background.
"My COVID Reality"
pencil and crayons on paper
Chrishaun L | age not supplied | Jamaica
"The Effects of COVID"
pencil and crayons on paper
Skylar S | 12 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"I'm Tired"
pencil on paper
Rayanna B | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
My inspiration came from the art of expressionism. I wanted to depict the art of "hiding your emotions" instead of going with the cliché version of drawing a person with a fake "mask" on I decided to recreate one of my old drawings I drew last year in quarantine because I think it really shows my mental health exactly.
Resilience During the C-19 Pandemic
"What is Dis?"
crayons and coloured pencils on paper
Amaya A | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
As a young girl my parents say I hold the future in my hands. During the COVID-19 pandemic while I feel hope and that we can be resilient, I am confused. The jar represents something fragile that can be broken or fall from my hand because I lost so many family and friends, school time and freedom during this time. I used crayons, coloured pencils and copy paper because these are available resources and during COVID. You have to live with and use what you have.
Untitled
mixed media
Krysanthe T | 16 years | Grenada
"Train 19"
coloured pencil and markers
Anja-Marie F | Age 15years | Trinidad & Tobago
COVID-19 fast forwarded our lives. 2020-2021 was suddenly taken away from us and as soon as we knew it we were shoved back into some form of normalcy with two years of our lives a blank memory.
"The Elephant in the Room"
watercolours and washable markers on paper
Kishaun D | age not supplied | Jamaica
Stronger Together
"Unity is Strength"
Paint 3D app
Anaya A | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"My Safe Zone"
coloured pencils on paper
Ayoka B | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"Sharing Love"
acrylic paint on paper
Isla L | 12 years | Grenada
"COVID-19"
digital art
Hadassah B | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
My COVID-19 Hero
"My Dad, My COVID-19 Hero"
washable markers, paint, watercolours
Deandre H | 16 years | Jamaica
"My COVID-19 Heroes- Sanitary Workers"
watercolour coloured pencils, digital collaging
Isaiah S | 12 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Isaiah admires the risk sanitary workers endured to clean up the most dangerous surfaces and remove hazardous waste everyday. The digital poster was hand drawn and fused together, depicting sanitary workers from garbage men, janitors in schools and commercial businesses and county workers. Their jobs were the most crucial , dangerous and thankless.
Alyssa L | 11 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"My COVID-19 Heroes"
Coloured pencils and marker
Jadyn B | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
"Superhero" During the Covid-19 Pandemic many doctors became superheroes to many as they worked tirelessly to save lives and maintain the health of patients. They put their own safety on the line to help others and their dedication and commitment to others was truly inspiring. Their selflessness and bravery will never be forgotten.
My World, My Future
"COVID- Before and After"
acrylic on canvas
Zillaine F | age not suplied | Grenada
"The New Normal"
washable markers, watercolour paint
David T | age not supplied | Jamaica
"One Day"
paint and pen on paper
Kaaliyah T | 13 years | Grenada
"Moving On"
coloured pencils, markers, crayons
Anilia R | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
My art piece was completely drawn and coloured in 6 hours. This piece of art consists of 5 different parts, each showing the different changes that occurred or will soon happen in my life as a result of or just after the COVID- 19 pandemic. I drew this piece with the notion in mind that 'Things are always changing, nothing is ever permanent.'
"Danger in Disguise"
Aabidah A | 14 years | Trinidad and Tobago
The woman in the picture is unaware that the flowers around her are infected with the COVID-19 virus and are making her sick.
"COVID Life"
coloured pencils and markers
Ammaarah S | 12 years | Trinidad & Tobago
This is a technology store which depicts the situation of most businesses during the pandemic- emptiness. It bares the symbols of No mask , No entry, which further illustrates the safety precautions taken by the business community.
"Tree of Life Reimagined in COVID"
coloured pencils and markers
Amaya A | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
COVID-19 became 'everything' and was trying to destroy life as we knew and wanted it. The blue sky and the tree represents hope that lingered despite the presence of COVID-19, which was comfortably and happily lurking.
Get in touch : canpaprojects@gmail.com
Kamali H | 13 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Isabella R | 8 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Niffya R | 14 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Soraya G | 9 years | Trinidad & Tobago
Tilesha B | 10 years | Trinidad & Tobago