AbstractArtwork is an expression of an artist inspired by thought and experience that encompasses issues and questions, including events, history, social, disasters, and psychology. This study was conducted to analyze and explain the signs and symbols on 20 works by Issarezal Ismail from two exhibition series entitled Wake Me Up When It’s All Over. The artworks from this exhibition were inspired by the artist’s own experience stranded in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah during the COVID-19 outbreak. The approach of this study is in the type of art study where it sits under a qualitative study that focuses on descriptive and holistic explanation. A conceptual framework was constructed based on the relevant concepts used by the researchers as a guide to analyzing the symbolism of the COVID-19 pandemic events in the work of Issarezal Ismail. The results of the analysis show that this series of works entitled Wake Me Up When It's All Over tries to reveal personal symbols from the artist's personal experie.....