With Europe’s vaccination programs finally getting up and running, the dream that so many of us have had since the pandemic began – of getting vaccinated, being able to walk around more freely, to see loved ones, to feel safe again – is close at hand. To celebrate this moment, SLEEK has partnered with Berlin-based artist Jose Rojas on a limited run of “Got the Vax” T-shirts.
These shirts are like little love poems, to solidarity, to care, and to life itself, all the little things we’ve missed so much. We sat down with Jose Rojas to talk about this collaboration, and what he hopes it means for the political and emotional currents around us.
What do you hope someone’s reaction is when they see these shirts?
They will hopefully smile.
Even though the vaccination process has taken off in many countries, we still face a reality in which a lot of people in the world are waiting for the vaccine or don’t have access to it, exposing an enormous gap in health equity. And the truth is no-one is safe until everyone is safe. That is why I don’t want these t-shirts to come across as proud or as showing off. Instead I hope they convey solidarity in the battle against COVID-19. Living in Berlin you encounter many people who still deny the virus or refuse to wear masks. Therefore it was important that the t-shirts make a visual statement with a sense of community and togetherness.
What was the process of developing these pieces like?
The idea for these t-shirts came quite fast and easy. I knew I didn’t want to create something that felt like wearing your vaccination status as a garment, but rather to use the t-shirt as a sign. Bold and straightforward and yet with a gentle note.
Did you have a particular story in your head when you were developing the illustrations?
I usually work in a much more figurative way, which allows me to play around with characters and tell their stories. This time I decided to keep it short. I wanted to create a quick and strong impression. The story to me is simple: There is a before and after the vaccine. There is a before and after the pandemic. From now on we should rethink the way we are going to live in society. We should question what it means to go back to “normal”.
You’ve said that humor plays an important part in your work. What role, if at all, do you think humor can have in getting people vaccinated?
For me the potential of humor in art is ever present. It can help make a serious topic more bearable. By getting vaccinated we are doing something good. So why not do it with a smile? Humor can also reduce fear and scepticism. With lightness it’s easier to digest the fact that we all have to go through the vaccination process if we want to reach a point where this virus is no longer a threat. That’s the reason I went for a motto with an attitude, in the hope that it becomes viral, ironically. Turning solidarity into an attitude society benefits from.
The little hearts are a really sweet touch. What was the inspiration for these?
It’s just such an iconic and universal shape. There is no complex story behind it. For me getting vaccinated means protecting yourself and — what I believe should be the biggest learning of this pandemic — protecting others. The heart is what gives the motto the underlying tone: Love and care.
Get your hands on this Limited Edition SLEEK x José Rojas T-Shirt, available for ORDER in our SLEEK Store, part of our proceeding will go to COVAX, an initiative which brings together experts from around the world to collaborate on the research and development of a wide range of COVID-19 vaccine candidates and the manufacturing, procurement, and delivery of the vaccines once approved.
Credits:
Illustration : José Rojas