“The Pandemic of false information”
When I began this project on October 28th, 2021, I intended for each mask to represent 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. I made 75 masks.
As of February 14th, 2023 there has been 102,736,819 known cases of COVID-19 in the United States and as of September 29th, 2023 there have been 1,144,539 deaths.
Click here to see the current death toll.
Misinformation and disinformation have had a devastating affect on the spread of the pandemic throughout the United States. “There’s a distinct difference between the two: Misinformation is a broader classification of false or inaccurate claims shared largely unwittingly and without the intention to deceive. Disinformation is a specific subset of misinformation created with deliberate intentions to deceive. Both have caused significant and real harm throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Printed onto each mask is a paragraph from “The “Pandemic” of Disinformation” by Fabio Tagliabue, Luca Galassi, and Pierpaolo Mariani. The red layer printed on top of that is all misinformation and disinformation that was actively spread throughout the United States during the pandemic. The statements are from social media posts, televangelists, podcasters, tv hosts, politicians, and overheard by friends, family, and I.
None of the following statements are true.
“The Pandemic of False Information” , October 2021, Silkscreen on Polyester, 10’ x 4’
“ I haven’t seen a homeless person die from covid. That’s how you know it’s not real.”
“Snorting cocaine will sterilize your nostrils against covid particulants.”
“It is impossible for children to die of covid.”
“Look how many people are here. No one has died from the covid hoax.”
“It’s just a flu.”
“Chinese communists invented the virus to attack U.S. voters”
“Covid Scamdemic”
“I don’t need a vaccine, I have pure blood.”
“Scientists are supressing the evidence of ivermectins effectiveness.”
(Typo made by author of this statement)
“COVID stands for Chinese Originated Viral Infectious Disease.”
“The W.H.O is controlling us with their COVID invention.”
“There is no possible way to know what they are putting in the vaccine.”
“Wearing a mask is a violation of my human rights.”
“He has pnemonia not covid.”
(Typo made by author of this statement)
“Ivermectin won a noble peace prize for it’s covid prevention.”
”Just take a shot of vodka every-time you’re around people. It will kill the virus.”