Seemingly overnight, the coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it. But despite the pressure to #stayhome, people are finding creative ways to spice up life in the “New Normal”.
NEUT Magazine’s editor-in-chief Jun Hirayama sat down with us (figuratively speaking) to discuss how, despite the pandemic forcing interviews and planned events into deadlock, the online medium continues to deliver a unique perspective, notably through its “MATTER OF CORONA” series introducing artwork from across the world.
–How have you been feeling about recent events?
At first I thought, I won’t be able to meet anyone! Pre-Covid, I would meet with loads of people, which often led to opportunities for NEUT, so I was pretty anxious. But then we started “MATTER OF CORONA” and took advantage of the opportunity to reach out to all sorts of people. Famous overseas artists replied and told us our project was interesting, and I also got a chance to engage creators in Japan I’d always wanted to work with. So being unable to physically meet people ended up broadening my chances of making new connections. It’s expanded opportunities for me on a personal and professional level, but I do worry sometimes that I’ll forget how to handle in-person communication!
–There’s a lot of conflicting information going around, which has brought the role of media into question. What kind of role do you have in mind for NEUT?
NEUT isn’t a news media per se, and I believe its role is to represent actions on the cultural front. I want to share information you can’t find elsewhere. We started “MATTER OF CORONA” because we thought it was really interesting that people all over the world are creating artwork on similar topics. There may be slight differences in perspectives and messages depending on the country, but there’s a sense of togetherness. It’s uplifting to see people producing creative works despite the current situation.
Some younger members of our audience don’t follow conventional news, so we also try to consciously share information in a positive manner. For example, we shared an article written by a nurse who also works as a model in the hopes that we can raise awareness on what’s happening right now. With the current situation, there’s a lot to feel anxious about. But despite our own anxiety, I think it’s important to keep sharing different perspectives and show how people in the community are reacting to the situation.
–What drives you to continue searching for new possibilities in the face of adversity?
NEUT’s mascot is a newt, which scientists call a master of regeneration. A lizard can regrow a tail, but a newt can regenerate even its brain or eyes. We hope that even if NEUT hits a rock, we can always pick ourselves up. We’re a small team, and we don’t have anything to lose. We also feel vulnerable at times like these, but we want to keep delivering our unique perspectives with a strong, regenerative mind of a newt.
