Toilet paper, March 2020

In mid-March 2020, toilet paper became a much sought-after product in Austria. Faced with the spread of the new coronavirus, Covid-19, between 10 and 15 March Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler and Health Minister Rudolf Anschober announced far-reaching restrictions to public life. For the first time since 1945, drastic measures such as curfews and school and restaurant closures were introduced. People were ordered to work from home. In light of these announcements, so-called panic buying began across Austria. This was in spite of the guarantee – repeated often by those in government and business – that basic supplies in Austria would not run out. The icons of the crisis became images of people wearing masks and empty (toilet paper) shelves.

Associated date: 2020

Diameter: c. 12 cm

Producer: SCA Hygiene Products (form. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget)

Materials: Paper

Acquisition: Donation