I’M MAKING THIS FOR THE RAT THAT LIVES UNDER MY OVEN
Press Release - IM MAKING THIS FOR THE RAT THAT LIVES UNDER MY OVEN IM MAKING THIS FOR THE RAT THAT LIVES UNDER MY OVEN is a show that explores the work of artists and writers in lock-down: how they have been affected emotionally and materially and how that changes the works they make. The show is an interactive online exhibition created by Molly Stredwick and co-curated by Molly Stredwick and Elliot Martin with texts by Elliot Martin. It will be accessible from mollystredwick.com at 8pm on Saturday 25th April. The show contains art from: Aimee Bannister, Alexander Yates, Archie Benton, Alice Mansfield, Chelsie Coates, Caroline Jackson, Daniel Kerrison Stock, Eibhlin Morrison, Fabia Elouise Sturridge, Flo Webb, Freddie Wise, Georgia Reyniers, Hannah Williams, Hana Whyte, Holly Orpen, James Knights, Kate Jackson, Laura Hessey, Lillian Fawcett-Wolf, Matthew Hawkins, Molly Mcfadden, Molly Stredwick, Robin Finch Pickering, Ruby Streek, Stella Pearce, Suzy Crossley, Sophie Wood, Winnie Hall. ‘Since the lockdown began there has been a new and uncanny interaction between precarity and stasis. That these two moments have become heightened has put new stresses on our relationship to the world, each other and ourselves. To create art now means interrogating all this: everything is in flux yet pervaded by a lingering quietude.’ This is the premise of the show; it is an exploration of the changes happening to artists during a global catastrophe.. There is overwhelming dread in the face of this crisis. Its invisibility may put us at an epistemic remove from the virus but its effects are all too visible. There is a penumbral fear for ourselves and for our loved ones - a collective bête noire (see Fabia Elouise Sturridge’s work ‘Miracle Dog’). Not only are we daily presented with memento mori, we are also spending more time with ourselves than before. Chelsie Coates (‘i am not chinese enough to be verbally assaulted’) uses this time to explore the intersection of racialised and misogynistic aspects of the pandemic, in particular, her experience of sinophobia. Yet lock-down has had the perverse effect in many of causing a loss of self through isolation and, in many cases, deracination. Many artists have had to move house or move home to parents before being locked-down. In both cases the altered situation can have material as well as psychological effects room is less available, studios are out of reach and materials are unobtainable - many of the works are smaller than the artists are used to making. At the same time, however, there is an uneasy calm. In the streets and towns (save for the essentials) there is no-one, the roads are clearer and many have found time for introspection (Alice Mansfield’s ‘Thought’ series or the text by Kate Jackson dealing with her anxiety). The privilege that allows many artists this time is not unobserved, of course, but in doing so it has manifested in the production of works that allow us personal insight into these artists. Many have found solace in their domesticity - all the things that surround them (as in Eihblin Morrison’s ‘Too cold for a swim but we’ll have a paddle anyway’ or Holly Orpen’s ‘Bottom series one, episode three, 1991, Life Drawings’) . This therapeutic art makes us revert to a ‘womb-being’ who is cut off from the world (take Winnie Hall’s work ‘Should’ve Been a Wag’). Others look to escape: James Knights’ hyperillustration ‘Gammon in a Thong’ and Ruby Streek’s stella ‘Untitled [smoking star]’ to name two. All these diverse reactions and interrogations of the pandemic are included in IM MAKING THIS FOR THE RAT THAT LIVES UNDER MY OVEN.
HANNAH WHYTE
THOUGHTS FROM A BICYCLE a poem about cycling through empty streets in the town you used to live in, when you’re twenty-two and you don’t live there anymore. INSTAGRAM: @HAN.WHYTE
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: I am living outside London, back in my family home, studying online Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: everything is smaller, lots of writing and drawings I can hold. I bake more and do art less, probably Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: less productive at the things I normally do! more productive at completely different things. I think there’s too much pressure to be productive in an actual pandemic, we should all be resting and calming if we can and I suppose that’s why I’ve found myself baking and making and ignoring some of my real life work when I can. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: yeah, I think it’s had an effect on everyone’s to some extent! Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A: best; time with my family, time to do things I wouldn’t usually do, TIME, writing letters to my friends, getting to be with my brother, the whole world feels like it’s on the same page for maybe the first time ever, everyone is cycling, capitalism is at least partially on a break. worst; I am terrified, people are sick and dying everywhere! on my road, across the earth, everywhere! I miss my friends, I miss my life, I miss leaving the house for more than 20 minutes at a time, capitalism is not completely on a break and
people are suffering as a result! nurses don’t have PPE! people are still having to go to work in places without free healthcare! lots of people I know and love are jobless and terrified and at risk! too much time to think !! about !! all of this !
SUZY CROSSLEY
SELF PORTRAIT (IN FRONT OF WALLPAPER) 2020, SPRING INTO LOCKDOWN ) ON THE COMMON (2020) shot on self timer on my iPhone INSTAGRAM: @SUZYCROSSLEYART
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: I have moved back to my mums house in Gloucestershire from London. Leaving my studio at Camberwell College until October when I will start 3rd year painting. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: I have been able to realise some ideas I had at uni through the wallpapering of my teenage bedroom. Some parts of my practice I have had to adjust which has given me more space to write more poetry which I use in support of my practical work. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: I have been quite productive as I had an initial goal to decorate my room but I’m not sure how to continue now as my space is limited and am feeling disconnected from my normal artistic space in south London. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: There’s obvious prevailing anxieties about Covid-19 and for my studies, writing an essay at home with no library access is proving difficult, but I am enjoying the daily rhythm of lockdown. I take a walk every day which is almost like meditation and I am mostly feeling relaxed. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A: Best: daily walk, no fomo(!) about socialising, listening to music, my mums cooking ha! Worst: I miss socialising and my friends
and uni And London and my independence
BUT WHAT IF - LAURA HESSEY But what if I like someone and they like me back, what happens to me when they leave, I mean it’s okay if they leave, if that’s what they want, I get that, people can change their mind and if they wanted to come back, that’s okay too, I’m probably not gonna have found someone else by then anyway, and if they say they’re not gonna leave again then I’ll try to believe them and I hope they wont leave again, but if they did, it wouldn’t be a big deal because they would have done it before and I should have learned my lesson, I shouldn’t get upset because I should have seen it coming, what should I expect? I mean if someone leaves, it’s literally fine, it’s normal, it happens to everyone, it’s fine, but what happens if the person I like says at the beginning of the relationship they won’t leave and do, would that feel worse or the same? I think it would feel worse, but if they do say that, I just won’t listen, I can’t get hurt then, yeah, I’ll do that, I’ll be more prepared then, it’ll be fine then, it’ll be fine.
LAURA HESSEY
BUT WHAT IF written piece - no description WEBSITE: LAURAHESSEY.COM INSTAGRAM @LAURA.HESSEY
Q; HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: It’s made me just have to think a lot more, its hard to get distracted by anything anymore so I guess writing has become a thing that I’ve resulted a lot in Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: I’ve wanted to got back to basics, ive been using pencils again, like actual drawing pencils, I haven’t used them in years, ive just wanted to draw a lot, and my practice is almost entirely digital Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: A lot more productive, it may be the amount of coffee that i’ve been consuming or it may be because I feel the need to have to keep myself busy, there’s just so much more I want to do now, its almost as if I haven’t got enough time now Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: at first, I really was having the worst time of my life, I was feeling really weird about who I was and where I was, everything that normally I block away, I couldn’t get away from but that was the first week or so whereas now, I really am thriving, ngl I think i’m gonna miss having to stay in, i’m being so productive! Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A: Best aspects? are being able to really start things I wanted to start a while ago but just haven’t had enough time to get around to it. Worst aspects? honestly, seeing everyone with there dogs in the park and on their instagram stories and
not being able to see mine, all i’ve been doing is dog spotting, oh and the fact there was a rat in our house and no way of escaping it, basically being forced to stay in the house with a very unwanted pet that doesn’t like me and could potentially attack me at any moment
KATE JACKSON
AN EXCERPT FROM THE COLLABORATIVE TEXT ‘ZOLTAR SPEAKS’ INSTAGRAM: @KATEJACKSONART_
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: I’ve had to move out of my house as my household couldn’t come up with the rent as we are all unable to work. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: With having limited wall or desk space I’ve focused a lot more on my writing which has influenced the smaller drawings I’ve been doing. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: I find my productivity is very dependant on my anxiety. There’s a lot in my normal life that makes me anxious and so i think having a break from it all has seemed to have a weirdly positive affect on my motivation and productivity. With the exception of a few very unmotivated days, i think I’ve felt more focused during lockdown. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: I think its been really interesting for me as its highlighted where all my anxieties stem from. I think lockdown has, on a whole, decreased the intensity of my anxiety. However, on the days that i have been anxious, its pretty difficult to escape from it as I can’t take your mind off it by leaving the space I’m in. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Personally I’ve found it to be a good time to really focus on myself and try to do things that make me happy. The worst aspect has been missing people. Not being able to give your family or
friends a hug has been difficult.
RUBY STREEK
[SMOKING STAR] (2020) 8M24S You are watching a star smoking and thinking. Maybe they’ve just had a long shift in the sky. Maybe they’re just having a moment. This short film blurs the lines between the bizarre and the intimate. Made during lockdown in the artist’s bedroom. WEBSITE: BURLYBOSOMS.COM
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I’ve spent so long desperate for more time to myself and now everyone’s unemployed and I’ve got all the time in the world. I was meant to be graduating this year - everything felt like it was finally falling into place and now I don’t know what situation we’ll be in a weeks time, let alone a couple of months. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:I no longer have a studio, and whilst I was lucky enough to pick up my camera and a couple of books from the studio on my last day there, I have no materials either. It’s difficult but it could be worse. You have to make do or you won’t make anything. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:Way less. I have literally made only this film in an afternoon and nothing else. I’ve got too much time on my hands - I’m taking my time because nothing matters and nothing’s going anywhere. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:I want to kill myself. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Pros: I’m always horny so there’s always something to do. Cons: I’ve had to learn to cook and I can’t remember what it feels like to hold someone’s hand. Also, I want to kill myself.
SOPHIE WOOD
UNTITLED VIDEO 2 MINUTES 20 SECONDS INSTAGRAM: @REV.SOPHIE
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:i have had to move out of my house in london and move back home to kent. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:i am now unable to continue with my original plans for my FMP as i cannot use any of the workshops such as the jacquard loom etc. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:less productive due to it being difficult to motivate myself from home and finding it hard to get back into the swing of making things in the circumstances i am now in. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:no. Q:WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:living with my dog again, not seeing my friends and missing everyone, and not being able to hug people
CAROLINE JACKSON
‘BRIDGES’, 1M X 1.2M, OIL AND CHARCOAL ON CANVAS INSTAGRAM: CAROLINEJACKSON_ART
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: My sisters moved in with me which is strange. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: Whilst my practice itself is still the same in terms of process, its interesting to make work at home as its usually a place of relaxation, but has adapted to be a space for both leisure and work. I’ve strangely found because of this, I’ve been more productive and find making my work to be more of an escape and leisurely activity. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: I’ve been more productive. I think this is because now there is not much to do and creating things is a great form of escapism. It also helps you feel some sense of normality. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: I find that some days I’m very content in terms of my head space and mental health, but others it is really difficult to not feel trapped and bored and a bit lost. I think it’s definitely fluctuating more than usual going from very high to very low moods. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A: The best aspect is being able to really focus on my self care, weather that be artistically, emotionally, physically etc. And also really appreciating life before this. The worst is probably how boring and tedious some days are and not being able to go outside, enjoy the sun with family and friends.
EIBHLIN MORRISON
TITLE: untitled (oil pastel and acrylic, 29x42cm), Too cold for a swim but we’ll have a paddle anyway (oil pastel, 21x29cm) LINKS: @eibhlinmorrisonart UNTITLED (OIL PASTEL AND ACRYLIC, 29X42CM), TOO COLD FOR A SWIM BUT WE’LL HAVE A PADDLE ANYWAY (OIL PASTEL, 21X29CM) INSTAGRAM: @EIBHLINMORRISONART
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I’m back at home for the foreseeable Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Pretty restricted medium wise and I make work about home but now that I’m there I’m not really sure what to make work about anymore Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:Significantly less productive but finding my new way of working now Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Oddly not really I think I feel pretty safe here and Im lucky to know all my loved ones are safe too Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Best- it’s put what’s important in perspective and hopefully it’s done that on a big scale. Worst- I just miss everyone a lot.
FREDDIE WISE
CARS OFF-ROAD 1-9 [DIGITAL DRAWINGS] 15 X 17CM THE END OF WINTER [DIGITAL DRAWING] 42 X 59.4CM INSTAGRAM: @FREDDIEFREDDIEWISE
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:Can’t go into college and have a bad back Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:My 3D work has gone tiny shoe box size but still pretty much the same. Then I’ve done more of these digital drawings. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I did almost nothing until this week because of the lack of space and I work quite messy. Now, I think I’ve just about evolved to make it work and I’ve become a bit more productive Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Yes Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Best aspect has to be getting the chance to do things I never would have otherwise/ sunning in the garden / not having lunch from Sainsbury’s everyday. Worst - is my back hurts all the time
HANNAH WILLIAMS
OH NO! (21.0 X 29.7CM) INSTAGRAM: @PIGEHAN
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I’ve moved back to Yorkshire to live with my parents again, which has been weird Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Instead of making video work I’m now making ugly drawings and paintings with whatever I can find around the house Q:HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I think its stayed the same level of productivity, but what I’m making (and want to be making) has changed considerably. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Long wild walks are good. Getting your food shopping done for you is great. Trying to live with parents again is not the best, but not bad. Only bringing one outfit home is bad.
DANIEL KERRISON STOCK
ARCHIE WITH RED HAIR / OIL ON CANVAS / 30CM X 42CM INSTAGRAM: @DANKSTOCK
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:no studio/ workshop Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Scale of work decreased, reusing old surfaces and painting over old paintings from arround the house. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:about the same Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:maybe Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:good to disconnect. hard to get criticism etc...
FABIA ELOISE STURRIDGE
MIRACLE DOG 80 X 50CM ACRYLIC ON CANVAS DESCRIPTION:Incorporating themes of folklore and UK counter-culture, this piece explores the suffering by the enforcement of entertainment through dog fighting and racing. The haunting image of a dog, using a sense of nightmarish displacement, reflects on the subject around human interaction with nature, training an animal to become aggressive and out of control. INTAGRAM: @WORLD.XF.DOGS
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I am now living at my parents house in the countryside, as before I was living in London. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:It hasn’t changed majorly, but it is very frustrating not being able to use different facilities to experiment, and having to make do with what I got already. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I have been pretty much the same, but there are some days where I just unable to create any work even when I try. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:It has greatly, although where I am currently in isolation is very peaceful in the countryside, I still have the overbearing anxiety of leaving university, which this lockdown has made even worse due to the uncertainty around after the lockdown. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:the best is being able to spend time with my dog, the worst aspects is being really far away from my friends.
WINNIE HALL
SHOULD’VE BEEN A WAG (OIL PAINT ON CANVAS) DESCRIPTION: this is about how when I was younger I’d look up to the wives and girlfriends of footballers (particularly Cheryl Cole who’s hair I adored, Victoria Beckham and Coleen Rooney). I thought being a WAG was a genuine option for me at that time and loved how glam they were sitting watching their partners playing football. Nowadays theres less fuss around them and the term WAG has disappeared (probably rightfully). To me they were the true players of the match! WEBSITE: WINNIEHALL.COM INSTAGRAM: @WINNE_HALL @WINNIEHALLSTUDIO
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:Being in lockdown has been shit in some ways but it’s also helped me remember what art is about for me! I’m learning that it’s such a privilege to think creatively particularly in hard times like these. I feel like I’ve been given time to enjoy making without feeling pressure of where it’s going which is refreshing! I’ve also learnt to be patient Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:I’m doing a lot more drawing and seeing that sometimes a pencil drawing is enough to be a ‘finished thing’ - also obviously because of lack of space we are being forced to be patient which means I’m putting more thought into plans for when I get back into the studio Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:Probably the same amount! I’m definitely more in my own world at the moment though which I’m enjoying I’m not switching on and off from my practice I’m waking up and getting on with it every day Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Definitely ! Since I’m in my final year at university and that’s all been cancelled including our degree show I’m finding it hard to process! Some days are bad and some are good you just have to be kind to yourself and do what you can on the bad days
Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:I like my own company so more time to think and make, but I miss my friends and studio ! Also leaving work in the studio I was just getting into
MOLLY STREDWICK
DAY 13 oil pastel and paper WEBSITE: MOLLYSTREDWICK.COM INSTAGRAM: @MOLLY.STREDWICK @SCABBYDOOBYDOO
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: I haven’t moved back in with my parents or anything but one of my flatmates has so the flat feels less crowded, which has its pros and cons. I’m lucky enough to have a large bedroom in London so I’m not feeling TOO cramped but it does really suck to not have a garden, not soaking up the sun is getting to me a bit. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: Obviously since moving out of my studio at uni my work has had to change massively. Instead of making large paintings I have scaled down my work and started to focus more on things like drawing and sculpture. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: I think my productivity has stayed the same although the focus of that productivity has shifted. When I’m at uni I spend all my time making larger works and socialising, without leaving space for much else but now I’m making less large work and focusing on different things. Making a website, making this show, drawing, sculpting, repotting any plant I can get my hands on, I’ve gotten really good at hula hooping. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: Yeah definitely, in different ways than I thought it would. I’ve settled into being a bit of hermit strangely (although when this is over I plan to not set foot in my own house for weeks).
Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A: BEST: I’ve repotted so many plants. I now have 30, I’ve had time to focus on myself without thinking about how others are viewing me, that’s very refreshing to be honest. WORST: Literally everything else, it sucks not being able to go anywhere and see my friends. I’ve gotten used to staying but I can’t wait to not have to.
ALICE MANSFIELD
TITLE: THOUGHT I (14 X 10CM, ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 2020) THOUGHT II (14 X 10CM, ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 2020) THOUGHT III (14 X 10CM, ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 2020) THOUGHT IV (14 X 10CM, ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 2020) THOUGHT V (14 X 10CM, ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 2020) THOUGHT VI (21 X 15CM, ACRYLIC ON CARD, 2020) THOUGHT VII (21 X 15CM, ACRYLIC ON CARD, 2020) THOUGHT VIII (24 X 18CM ACRYLIC AND OIL PASTEL ON BOARD, 2020) DESCRIPTION: This collection of works on paper, card and board was made after returning to my childhood home for lockdown. I was born in this house and have lived here (when I’m not at uni) for twenty-two years. This is a long time, and these paintings are an expression of the feelings involved in coming back to a place that has seen so much. People tend to revert into a different version of themselves when they go back home, but this is the first time I feel I haven’t done this. INSTAGRAM: @ALICEMANSFPAINTINGS
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I have moved from the city to the middle of nowhere. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:As a painter without a studio, my process hasn’t changed much. This means making the best of a small physical space, using limited materials and feeling frustrated while painting. Time has shown me that working within constraints doesn’t have to be restricting. It can be an opportunity to challenge yourself. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I have been painting more, probably because it’s an introspective time and it feels like there is less outside pressure. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:I thought it would make everything worse but I’ve realised that I have felt everything that we are now all feeling before. I worry about people who haven’t experienced that. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Worst: no pubs.
ALEXANDER YATES
1. HOW MUCH BLUE CAN YOU DO? 2. MODIFY YOUR DRAWING IMPLEMENT 3. NOW WEAR GLOVES, USE SOMETHING STICKY 4. 30 SECONDS EYES OPEN, 30 SECONDS EYE CLOSED 5. MAKE AN ILLUSION DESCRIPTION:This is a collaborative piece between myself an Stella, we wanted to create works within a small timeframe and utilising boundaries and restrictions we could give each other, thus informing our works. It was far more stressful than anticipated. INSTAGRAM: @ALEXJYATES
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I eat a lot more jaffa cakes and do a lot less work Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:I haven’t been able to do any larger works, so I’ve moved to smaller paper based work with oil pastels, usually I make them in a bit of a rush before the idea dies, usually right after jaffa cakes Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:Less in some ways, more in others, I think a lot less before doing things because I don’t have lots of materials to work with, it’s all a bit more immediate I guess. I definitely don’t write half as much though and I find it hard to focus for a long time. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:I’m a person who worries about health a fair bit so it’s been quite stressful, but if I can do some exercise or just be outside for an hour or two a day then I’m pretty positive. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:I can control the pace of things more and don’t have to take any public transport. I really miss having pints though and odd little experiences you have throughout the day in public.
STELLA PEARCE
5 INSTRUCTIONS 2 PEOPLE 1 HOUR HOW MUCH BLUE CAN YOU DO? MODIFY YOUR DRAWING IMPLEMENT NOW WEAR GLOVES --> USE SOMETHING STICKY 30 SECONDS EYES OPEN, 30 SECONDS EYE CLOSED MAKE AN ILLUSION MORNING PLANS: FILM/DRAW FOR AN HOUR AND PHONE EACH OTHER EVERY 10 MINUTES WITH A NEW INSTRUCTION INSTAGRAM: @STELLALUCIEPEARCE
ARCHIE BENTON
COVERS FOR “GRIMS HOUSE RADIO (PAPER-CUT) DESCRIPTION: “GRIMS HOUSE RADIO” every Monday and Friday baby ;) INSTAGRAM: @ELAGRIMHOUSE @ELARTFRIMHOUSE MIXCLOUD: HTTPS://WWW.MIXCLOUD.COM/ELAGRIMHOUSE/
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I mean I moved back home, I was really gutted at first but i’ve set up shop in a shed and started this Radio show which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:I think (while I miss it) taking away the pressure of uni has let me make exactly the kind of work I want to make which has boosted my confidence in my work hugely. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I’ve definitely been more productive but thats almost because I have to, if I go through a day without achieving anything it really affects my mood, I think I’ve been getting all the joy I get from real life from getting shit done instead. Watch me turn back into a damn sloth the moment we’re set free. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Its made me adapt to being more reclusive, I’m naturally extroverted though so I hope it doesn’t last after lockdown.. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:BEST: No obligations WORST: No friends no beer no flirting (IRL anyway) no pres on the train no fist bumps :(
JAMES KNIGHTS
GAMMON IN A THONG (PHOTOSHOP SQUIGGLE) DESCRIPTION: A Gammon in a thong INSTAGRAM: @JAMEZSZKNIGHTS
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: Wildly. I think the same goes for everyone. Not knowing what’s around the corner is constant pressure. I’m in the third year of my degree and trying to maintain a healthy and regular practice is proving to be hard. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: My work often fluxes between a digital and physical practice, it’s disrupted it in the way that I tended to explore ways in which to emulate the digital physically. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: If curating my animal crossing village counts then I have been WAY more productive. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Yes. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Best: Animal crossing all day everyday. Worst: The impending guilt of not doing anything else.
FLO WEBB
HUNGRY EAGLE, 420 X 594 MM, CHALK AND CHARCOAL ON PAPER INSTAGRAM: @WEBB.FLO
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:Just do all my work more or less in my bedroom now. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Been using lots of charcoals and chalk as i left a lot of my materials at uni! Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I’ve been kind of more productive as I set myself a task of doing one drawing more or less a day to keep a positive routine. Its been helpful for my mind. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Yes it’s been hard for sure. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Feeling lonesome but been given the gift of time!
LILLIAN FAWCETT-WOLF
UNTITLED - BOTH - DIGITAL PAINTING DESCRIPTION: Lillian is a German & British artist currently attending Camberwell College of arts. Her work is concerned with the juxtaposition of empathy and apathy to our physical and social conditions. She takes current and relatable events and communicates them in her work to evoke an emotional response or the absence of it by layering both physically and metaphorically. She tackles the ideas of intersectional concepts and forms through abstracted painting, mixed media, and digital processes. Her current pieces relate to socially perceived dislocation and, as a result, social disconnection. The distinct process of taping and layering of paints and varnishes in several working steps varies depending on the media onto which she works on. Her recent digital work gives her intuitively conceived ideas immediacy and spontaneity. INSTAGRAM: @THEAWOLF_ART
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:I’ve challenged myself by incorporating photos that I’ve taken in the past as well as further developing my previous work. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: I would say I am just as productive however I am spending more time coming up with new concepts . This being due to having more time to focus on my medium. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Best aspects of isolation having more time to focus on my work, learning new aspects of the software I use to create work and to spend time with family. Worst aspects: I’m a very social person and enjoy creating exhibitions and creative events that allow collaboration. However I have been trying to create something close to this online. This has been a very positive learning experience.
HOLLY ORPEN
BOTTOM, SERIES ONE 1991, EPISODE THREE: CONTEST, LIFE DRAWINGS (5 A5 STUDIES, CHARCOAL) DESCRIPTION:The work I make always centres nostalgia, memory and sentiment. Accepting our collective forgetfulness, trying to find celebration in it, letting it embellish all it touches. It is is almost exclusively sourced, and occasionally produced, in and from moving image. It takes other forms too; primarily in drawing, often charcoal, very large and quite tiny. As well as installation and occasionally more sculptural pieces. Silent film comedy; it’s sets, stars and stories, have been the basis of things for a good while. The situation we all find ourselves in now however is persuading me to make in different ways. Drawing is a habitual calming compulsion again, enveloping myself in the media I know and love, covering myself in it. This has brought me back towards the filmography of the late great Rik Mayall. Somebody who has never failed to make me laugh since I first found his comedy. Comedy is mending all ills at the minute. Surrounding yourself with laughter is the greatest tonic. When this cannot be the laughter of your friends, your celebrity flames will have to do. It came about that Mayall and Ade Edmonson’s 90s sitcom Bottom was perfect to exercise some free and quick drawing. Stopping and starting the video as Richie and Eddie threw each other around the little wooden set of their flat in mirth and violence, I considered the positions of the bodies, their grimaces. What a way to draw the comedic form in action. INSTAGRAM: @HOLLY_ORPEN
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I’m in a different county for the foreseeable, far away from friends and my partner Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:I was extremely attached to my studio space, I’ve had to adapt to having lost that for the time being. Especially loosing objects and furniture I had found and collected through the year as well as almost all of my art materials. Since being here I have made my own charcoal and converted my bedroom to being half a studio, filling it up with as much work I can as fast as I can produce it to give myself somewhere homely again. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:In a way more productive, although it took me a while to find my feet here. It’s also encouraged my living with parents again who ask me if I’m doing work every single time they see me haha. Now drawing is keeping me going a bit Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:I already had huge problems contemplating life after uni, now that has grown to encompass not being able to contemplate the future of the whole world, however there is some reassurance in the camaraderie of all of this, all in the same shitty boat Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Lots of thinking time/ sadly most of my brain has shut itself down for self pres-
ervation purposes
MATT HAWKINS
UNTITLED, 2020, // 199 X 148 MM // INKJET PRINTS ON MIX MEDIA PAPER DESCRIPTION:A high-contrast black and white photographic diptych containing two self-portraits of the artist. Taken on a long-exposure and to emphasise movement and cause distortion to the figure, this series explores vulnerability and freedom. INSTAGRAM: @MAYYHAWKINSFILM WEBSITE: WWW.MATTHAWKINSFILM.COM
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:Lost photography/film/lighting jobs, lost cafe job Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Without other subjects to photograph portraits, I have turned the camera on myself. It has given a chance to practice studio setups in small places and experiment with new/different ideas - photographs, video, installation pieces Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:Ups and downs, over time i have become more productive settling into more of structure but this still fluctuates heavily. Hard to focus on some projects where work opportunities have been lost, taking time to adjust to different practices and ideas Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:Yes - It’s been difficult not being able to physically interact with and see friends, but there is some comfort in knowing everyone is in a similar place. Counselling has closed down so more dealing with it on my own. More time to think, but also more time to cope with mental health issues as positively as possible. There have definitely been responses to this through my art Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Best - Lots of time in which work can potentially get done - New responses to circumstances (on-
line colabs, different ideas)
MOLLY MCFADDEN
DEFINE (SERIES) PENCIL ON PAPER A4 INSTAGRAM: @MOLLUMCFADDEN
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: I usually make large paintings but don’t have the resources to do so anymore. I don’t think my painting style translates well on small supports. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A: I haven’t touched a brush in like a month and a half, but I’ve been drawing which hasn’t been any part of my practice for years but ’m enjoying it. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A: Less productive. I struggle having no separation between my work and living space. I need that change of environment to a dedicated workspace in order to trigger a working mindset. Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A: My anxiety has actually eased since lockdown. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A: The best aspect for me is breathing space. Life is slow and that suits me. The worst aspect is that my degree is fucked and I probably won’t be able to experience my last few months in London. (Also aware that I’m privileged to have these problems be the very most of my concerns).
AIMEE BANNISTER
AIMEE BANNISTER THIEVES BEWARE - A SECRET ENTRANCE TO THE POO FACTORY INSTAGRAM: @AIMEESMENU
ROBIN FINCH PICKERING
A SHELF
CHELSIE COATES
TRANSCRIPT OF POEM ON NEXT PAGE
I AM NOT CHINESE ENOUGH TO BE VERBALLY ASSAULTED BY CHELSIE COATES TRANSCRIPT OF POEM
i can’t help but sob myself to sleep every night thinking of how dumb i must be to be worried about my insecurities when there are thousands dying every single day. so what you’re not chinese enough ? in times where being an eastern asian and having that run through your blood, even if
born in WHATEVER country puts you at risk to be beaten and tormented for existing , i weep for my sisters and brothers who don’t have the luxury of passing. my auntie in new york wrote me a story of her first covid related injustice a teller at the bank happily chatting away to a customer prior to her, upon my auntie reaching the booth , she drew up her scarf to cover her face ,
a makeshift mask, and her demeanour changed to that of short tempered and dismissive. perhaps you would think nothing of such a tale , if you are not the one to live it or understand the connotations alongside it . but the teller was just personifying all those negative words people have spewed into the world to do with being a certain race the president himself called it a
chinese virus . therefore , us chinese are to blame. but i am not chinese enough to be verbally assaulted about bringing covid to this country yet my heart still weeps in solidarity for those who are.
I AM NOT CHINESE ENOUGH TO BE VERBALLY ASSAULTED (A1 PRINT DIGITALLY IMAGINED FOR TEXT SCREENPRINTING ONTO A COLLAGE DESCRIPTION: this work is a continuation of my practice surrounding my personal feelings towards being a mixed race chinese woman - it is a play off from one of my previous poems/installation/performances “i am not chinese enough to actually be chinese” and is focused on my relationship with the current covid pandemic. The background is a collage of discarded fortune cookie wrappers, from a previous performance - acting as remnants that have been tossed aside but repurposed , thus bringing to light ideas of fragmented memory and connection. INSTAGRAM: @CHELSIECOATESART WEBSITE: CHELSIECOATES.WEEBLY.COM
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A: Came back to my mum’s house planning to stay for a short time but now stuck in the countryside so left a lot in London including materials and notebooks etc. Only have my bedroom really for making work and it’s very difficult to do so. No printer or scanner at my mum’s, no good camera, Uni facilities are out of reach and I usually use them a lot so ... definitely changed my circumstances dramatically as i’m sure as it has lots of people. :( Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Unable to create the scale of work I am used to, work has had to downsize a lot and been much more focused on my writing rather than performance / installation which is how I would usually incorporate everything all elements of my work together. Not being able to get access to my usual material choices etc has also reduced my options dramatically. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:Much less, mental health and lack of motivation have caused me to be very unproductive and struggling to get motivated being home alone as my mum is out at work every day. Also been physically ill (not corona tho) and also general laziness ... This is unfortunately the first work I have made all quarantine (aka. in over a month). Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:yes, was bad beforehand but
been definitely been exacerbated by current situation :( Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:best - finally cleared up my eczema by catching some rays :) worst - the list is so long I don’t even know where to start tbh ??? will probably end up ranting if I start !!!
GEORGIA REYNIERS
CHAIN, 88 X 60CM, UNFIRED CLAY DESCRIPTION:This structure embodies themes which explore the potential for movement and restrictions of ceramic as a material in conjunction with the functional properties of a chain through the meditative act of automatic creation and documentation. Due to access and resource limitations, I cannot fire the clay so the structure remains brittle. Thus, the piece constantly evolves as the end product is only a representation of the links that were created initially, representing the adaptability and acceptance of differing positions in this changing climate INSTAGRAM: @LIDLSALAMI WEBSITE: WWW.GEORGIAREYNIERS.COM
Q: HOW HAVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED SINCE THE LOCKDOWN? A:I’m very fortunate in that I have been offered continual pay and am staying in London with my flatmates, so life hasn’t changed too much for me but I have been separated from my family which feels weird. Q: HOW HAVE YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICES CHANGED AFTER LOCKDOWN? A:Normally in my work I use materials that I find or try new things and manipulate them, however, due to reducing supply I’m trying to be more careful with what I do with the materials I have, meaning my work has become a bit more considered. I have been using materials that I have had and not used for over a year and so they’ve dried or they’re a bit harder to use. For example, the crank I have been using for my sculpture has more or less completely dried and so every time I want to add to the chain I have to soak a little bit in water for about 20 minutes and then work into it so it’s usable. Once soaked, I can’t restore it and so anything that I soak I have to use. It’s definitely changed my approach to using materials I would normally disregard or throw out and to not be tempted into buying new ones as an easy replacement. Q: HAVE YOU BEEN MORE OR LESS PRODUCTIVE UNDER LOCKDOWN? WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? A:I have definitely tried to be as productive as possible every day that we are in lockdown. I guess it’s because this is quite a rare situation for any creative who would normally be spending their time studying or working in an unrelated job.
Q: HAS LOCKDOWN HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? A:I’m very lucky in that it hasn’t affected my mental health too much. However, I have definitely put a lot of pressure on myself to be as productive as I can, meaning I feel guilty when I do nothing. Also, I feel like there’s a lot of expectation to spend your time connecting with people over facetime or whatever. I find myself getting angry or anxious when people suggest it. I have found this quite stressful as it seems like there’s not the excuses you would have in every day life if you’re just not feeling up to it because ‘what else is there to do’. Other than that, I’m ok. Q: WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST ASPECTS OF ISOLATION? A:Worst aspects are cabin fever, general guilt and not being able to see friends or family. The best aspect is definitely having the option to create, think and do things for yourself that you wouldn’t normally have the time to do.
I MADE THIS FOR THE RAT THAT LIVES UNDER MY OVEN Art in Lockdown: Precarity and Stasis BY Elliot Martin Since the lockdown began there has been a new, heightened and uncanny interaction between precarity and stasis. How these two moments have behaved has put new stresses on our relationship to the world, each other and ourselves. To create art now means interrogating all this: everything is in flux yet pervaded by a lingering quietude. Often precarity refers to economic uncertainty, and while true here, I take it to be broader - existential uncertainty. Primarily death and fear of death, not only for ourselves but for unreachable loved ones. Less melancholic is a sense of being deracinated, suddenly moving to a different place. Both have their effects on art produced in lockdown - psychologically and materially. But there is also stasis. Lockdown has confined, isolated and bored in spite of the world outside. It has given us time to think about ourselves, find paradoxi
cal moments of calm and be ‘distracted from distraction by distraction’ (Eliot). This odd inertia raises questions: What does it mean to be a being-in-the-world when the world suddenly gets a lot smaller? How and why does one create art after such a contraction? Can creating works allow us to explore our new lockdown pathologies and halt their potential perseveration? It is possible, in isolation, to be lost in emotional tumult but it is equally possible to lose affect all together and become numb. If either is the case, a delicate balance must be made to escape the circumstantial pathologies. Too far one way and we lose sight of the dark historical moment in a bigger (brighter) picture, too far the other way and we lose ourselves in introspective myopia. We are, then, on a scale that might tip towards the kitsch or towards the disturbed (Lefebvre). In any case, art
in the present moment must necessarily be a response to the current crisis; It may be a function of newly conditioned agoraphobia or neurotic introspection, or simply a change in art materials. Perhaps. At this moment, however, art also becomes a therapeutic device – art that mimics and finds its subjects in our domestic surroundings. It seems that lockdown has necessitated a reversion to a kind of ‘Womb-being’. In our changed ontopology we are comforted by the stability of the things we find in our immediate environment - especially against the precarity of the rest of the world. Isolated in houses or single rooms, often the ones we grew up in, just as life proper was supposed to begin. Being thrown back into these places unexpectedly can trigger mémoire involontaire (although it’s not always as sweet as Proust’s madeleine) and inspire. The works we have selected are presented here in virtual form. They must therefore be enjoyed, inspected and dissected as just that: art in virtual reproduction. Benjamin tells us what is lost in the reproduction of art – the genuineness of the work. That is to say its “material duration and historical witness” - its so-called ‘aura’. We might lose, also, the fidelity of the original; the photographic quality as well as the physical extension of the work will perhaps be lacking. This is not to make excuses for the exhibition. On the contrary, presented with a flat surface, it might be worth noting how the two-dimensionality mirrors a low ebb in lockdown. The postmodern obsession with surfaces becomes appropriate in our collective moments of lost affect – our occasional inability to feel our feelings.
Further Benjamin writes that, “In making many copies of the reproduction, it substitutes for its unique incidence a multiplicity of incidences. And in allowing the reproduction to come closer to whatever situation the person apprehending it is in, it actualizes what is reproduced [reactivates the object reproduced].” It is uniquely true in the current case where a whole exhibition is brought inside one’s room and is contextualised as such, without the lingering authority of the original. This is an opportunity to bring art into your space and make it subject to your will. To instrumentalize and actualize this art. Enjoy.