Hello, my name is Don Low, a freelance illustrator and cartoonist based in Singapore. Now that I have been given more free time, I have been trying to catch up with creating cartoons and comics for the general public. I am not represented by any syndicate, newspaper or magazine so this is just something I do as a pastime. Sometimes, I would print out some artwork for a fee when someone requested it or I would charge a comprehensive royalty for sharing or use on any print material. Otherwise I am doing this on a voluntary basis whenever I can.
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My caricature done on #clipstudiopaint
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This year was a strange year, many have said. But it is also a golden year to stay at home and recharge, and not be bogged by keeping up with the times. The economy came to standstill for some months but it is coming back up again. The pandemic has made many people become more aware of personal hygiene and also keeping a safe distance from one another. When it all started, everyone was raving about washing hands and not touching their faces and avoiding public places if necessary. Many responded out of fear for catching the virus. But the strangest thing of all, was the crazy buying and hoarding of toilet papers. In retrospect, this made sense. It is a natural response for humans to do something to cope with a crisis. But in this case, no one knew how to response to this unprecedented circumstance. So the immediate response to a citywide lockdown measure was to get something, and toilet rolls were chosen as an amenity that meant life and death.
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Personal hygiene directives given by many health authorities including Singapore.
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Right in the beginning, not many health experts knew the infectious rate of the coronavirus and when surgical face masks was in short supply, the health authority in Singapore advised her people not to wear mask if they were well, and leave the masks for the unwell and the medical institutes. This was then heavily criticised later. We all knew too well that this was a new virus and everyone was just scrambling to find information and viable solution to cope with the situation. But we Singaporeans are known to be very entitled people and instead of working together as a nation, we blamed it on the government. We even stupidly panic bought toilet rolls and cleaning supplies.
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A surge of experts advising people what to do.
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It was then followed by a surge of experts telling people on social media on what to do during the pandemic. Everyone claimed to be the health authority. Institutions also used celebrities to spread the word of the importance of personal hygiene and when frontline workers like nurses were seen on public transport and places and were intensely criticised, they also were asked to step in to advise otherwise. Information was flying all over and soon enough, the public was just tired of listening to the same old thing again and again.
When long queues were seen and reportedly formed in supermarket, our Prime Minister has to appear on national TV to tell the people not to panic. It was a wise thing to do. Judging by the intelligence level of the people, he has to assure people that there would be enough supplies to last for many months to come and panic buying was not the best response. He has to continue to show on national TV that the storehouses were all filled to the brim. Fortunately many other first world countries or even third world nations have responded the same too, so we did not look as bad.
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The result of stupidity, fear and paranoia.
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Sia Suay - to embarrass and to disgrace.
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Olympics was cancelled.
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