'Held in Hope': how Covid-19 changed us - and the world

A new exhibition exploring the impact of the pandemic on our hospitals and communities is now on display.

Held in Hope showcases the work of six artists and reflects on their personal feelings as well as the way Covid-19 has shaped our society.

Available to view at Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary's hospitals, the displays include photographs, watercolours, drawings and much more.

One of the artists featured in the exhibition is Hannah Deller, a matron on our children's wards at St Mary's, who previously worked as a photographer and used her skills to document life on the Covid wards.

Her images give a rare insight into nursing during lockdown and were featured on television and in newspapers as well as inspiring an album celebrating frontline workers.

For Thompson Hall, another of the artists whose work is included in Held in Hope, drawing and painting served as a way to portray his own perspectives as a person with a learning disability navigating daily life during the pandemic.

"I took ideas from my own personal experiences - from my childhood, for example - and added them to the political issues that affect everybody," he said. "It was about asking: What will we face after this is over? How will Covid change things?"

Also included in the exhibition are photographic collages by Bindi Vora, paintings by Susie Hamilton, a poem from Keith Jarrett and bespoke silhouette portraits from Aida Silvestri.

Held in Hope is available to view for free at Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St Mary's hospitals. You can find out more about our arts programme at imperialhcharity.org.uk/arts