Rochdale art project celebrates humanity through the pandemic

Rochdale Town Centre recently welcomed a new art piece to Baillie Street – the ‘Radical Kindness Project’.

We spoke to R. Khan, a local artist who was integral in the creation of the eye-catching artwork to find out more about the inspiring project:

"Over the past year, Covid-19 has upended everything about our lives. We have lost so much, and yet people and communities have come together to support each other through it.

"Key workers and the NHS, volunteers and communities have been at the heart of our crisis response and we want to mark and celebrate this. These volunteers and communities were the driving factor of creating the public art piece.

"This piece of public art is a celebration of the community's contribution to the power of kindness and the vital work of neighbours, communities and volunteers."

Action Together recruited three artists local to Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside to articulate a celebration of day-to-day kindness and mutual aid within the communities. R. Khan and Bushra Sultana were the commissioned artists for Rochdale.

R.Khan said: "Through safe collaborative practice, we worked with local people to find the best way to mark the importance of this moment and the radical importance of everyday kindness. We spoke to participants via Zoom, in person - in a Covid secure way, to share stories and experiences. Some of their artwork and quotes were incorporated within the piece."

The public art was inspired by the stories that were told and shared within the different communities of Rochdale.

Within the piece there are numerous inspiring quotes such as 'to be there, is kind' and 'caring is kindness'. Various Rochdale landmarks can also be seen within the artwork such as Rochdale Town Hall and Rochdale Riverside.

R.Khan explained: "The piece tells a story of the many acts of kindness, using participant quotes, visuals, and changing experiences that have affected many people’s lives during these unprecedented times. "Rochdale and its residents are unique, with the many communities it serves. The landmarks incorporated in the piece are recognisable and represent the whole of Rochdale.

"Had I not created this piece with Bushra, I don’t think we would have interacted with so many different, wonderful groups and individuals, or known about the many acts of kindness that Rochdale’s citizens were doing every day. I was humbled, in awe and inspired by the various acts of kindness."

The colourful art piece has already proven popular with members of the public. R. Khan said: "The community reaction has been phenomenal. Even when the work was being installed, before the launch, members of the public had said that they really like the artwork and it represents Rochdale very well.

"It was fantastic to see so many people react positively to the Kindness artwork."

Lucy Fieldhouse - Community Arts Writer