ARTIST: JESSICA KEORAPETSE
COUNTRY: BOTSWANA
MATERIALS USED: CARDS, HONEY, FOOD COLOUR ESSENCE, FOUNDATION, LIPSTICK, EYEBROW PENCIL, EYE SHADOW, FAKE LASHES, ADOBE PHOTOSHOP and PICSART
The country faced a total shutdown, weddings and large events were cancelled and some postponed to further notice. Businesses are adapting to home-work policies and we all involuntary self-quarantined and avoiding people as we want to contain the virus but the government is forgetting the artists. As an artist, there is no such thing as working from home, as your work station is the people and it’s kind of impossible to work on the people as we are required to cooperate and practise social distancing.
Yes, social media can be another way for a makeup artist like me to continue earning money by doing online tutorials but it’s unfortunate I wasn’t well prepared as I don’t have the necessary equipment to shoot myself at home and posting it online, as we speak my page is stagnant and has fewer views as I don’t have the camera to take the videos, and the proper lighting because it takes good quality to grab anyone’s attention. I am just home doing nothing as my calendar has been cleared and the government/world has turned a blind eye on the creative as COVID-19 is taking over.
I am Jessica Keorapetse, a girl from Botswana, a self-taught makeup artist, and do it part-time to make extra cash. As a makeup artist, my job descriptions include behavior’s we were told to discontinue for example touching of the eyes and nose in which I do to complete my makeup tasks on clients face as I have to do a one-on-one contact (face-to-face) with them for a job well done at the end of the day. I understand that touching of the eyes and nose spreads the virus fast but it also cost me my paycheck as I depended on the money to buy more products, my toiletry, and transport fare to school. Since schools don’t operate I have fewer makeup products and fewer toiletries as I am not earning anything at the moment to get more.
This picture explains the bruises and pain on my body and pockets that COVID-19 has caused and continues causing as no one understands or feels the same way as I do or even recognizes it as everyone’s focus is shifted to this pandemic. The pandemic that tears me down and has left me jobless, useless, heartbroken, and worthless. My pockets scream as they are not used to being empty, oh COVID-19 you have outdone yourself.
