A conceptual work by Kees de Goede, using ink on newspaper to map the interconnected nature of information during the 2020 pandemic.

Kees de Goede, a Dutch artist known for his engagement with material and text, produced this work during the global health crisis of 2020. The piece utilises a physical copy of the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper as its primary surface. De Goede applies dense, radial ink lines that originate from specific points across the page, creating a web-like structure that obscures and connects the printed headlines and imagery.

The work functions as a visual mapping of information overload. By drawing these intersecting lines over the journalistic content, the artist creates a tension between the static, printed word and the chaotic, interconnected nature of digital communication during a period of isolation. The title, Pandemie Astraal, suggests a connection between the earthly reality of the pandemic and a more abstract, perhaps cosmic or digital, network of influence. The newspaper remains visible beneath the ink, allowing the viewer to discern fragments of the original text, such as references to the virus and political commentary.

De Goede often works with the concept of the 'trace', where the physical act of drawing becomes a record of time and thought. In this instance, the repetitive, almost obsessive application of ink lines transforms a disposable object into a permanent record of a specific historical moment. The composition is flat, yet the density of the lines creates a sense of depth and vibration. This piece is a direct response to the way information was consumed and disseminated during the early stages of the pandemic, capturing the feeling of being caught within a global, inescapable network of data and anxiety. It is a stark, monochromatic study of how media shapes our perception of reality.