Covid-19 Project Small Objects that Save

Small Objects that Save Lives (after Christine Borland), Covid-19 Project

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In April I developed the idea of a collective artwork, something that would capture the experience of friends and family under ‘lockdown’. I wrote and sent out a simple brief on 15 April 2020 and I asked everyone to return their contributions by 15 May 2020. I was delighted to receive over forty responses. I have brought these together in a single artwork, using some of the techniques I have perfected for use in my personal practice link Unit 3 Gallery. The completed work was installed on Peckham Rye for a few hours on 13 September 2020 and generated a lot of interest from the general public. My own experience of being directed by the government to ‘shield’ from 23 March until

1 August has had a profound effect on my MA studies, something I refer to in my Unit 3 Critical Practice essay link

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Lockdown, 2020, collective artwork installed on Peckham Rye 13 September 2020

Lockdown, 2020, collective artwork installed on Peckham Rye 13 September 2020

COVID - 19 Project, August and September resolution of the collective work

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On Sunday 13 September Lockdown, 2020, the collective artwork resulting from my COVID-19 Project was installed under a tree on Peckham Rye. Installing it in the open air with the tree as support felt appropriate as Boris Johnson has just announced that social gatherings will be restricted again from Monday to no more than six people. The work generated a lot of interest from passers-by.

To ensure the work is flexible enough to be installed in a variety of venues, which could include interior spaces such as a stairwell or gallery, all the fixings are temporary and adaptable. The individual contributions are fixed to looped ribbons on a canvas canopy using tapes fastened with Velcro. The canvas canopy itself is held with tied canvas tapes. and is made with hand dyed and stitched textiles, techniques I began to develop in Unit 2 and refined during Unit 3 to make the sculptural works in Perceptual Shift (see Unit 3 Gallery link).

Tree selected in August for installation of work on Peckham Rye

Canvas canopy installed 13 September, ready for attaching the individual contributions to the collective work

Attaching the works to the canvas canopy

Lockdown, 2020. The canopy of artworks complete

Film of Lockdown, 2020 installed on Peckham Rye

COVID - 19 Project, Making a start on bringing the project together in May and June

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Two contributions to my Covid-19 Project

Following the Unit 2 Assessment hand-in I have turned my attention to my Covid-19 Project, a collective artwork, see brief below sent out on 15 April 2020 (see Studio Diary entry 19 April 2020 link). I spent a good deal of time on Saturday 23 May 2020 documenting all the contributions I have received, there are over forty! I photographed all of them and am drawing each one too. This is allowing me time to contemplate each and a moment to figure out how I might bring them all together into one piece of work. I think further research into collective artworks will be useful. The idea of a positive exchange is high in my mind: this may take a couple of different formats for instance there may be some way I can use the drawings I am making not only as a way of documenting and planning the final work, but they are something to send as gifts to the contributors. I am moved by the notes people have sent with their work and I have made sure these are safely ‘archived’ together with the pieces because they too are an important element of the work. I am imagining my drawings printed together with excerpts of the texts and used to produce a miniature ‘artists book’. I t could be a simple black and white printed concertina book the size of a hand with drawings on one side and excerpts of text on the other.

I do not want to rush to any conclusions about what the final outcome just yet. Contemplating each work as I draw it is becoming an integral part of the process too: as I draw each item I am learning about the piece, developing an understanding the how it was made, and I am inevitably drawn closer to the maker. I find myself imagining how they might have been feeling during the Covid-19 crisis and how this has been channelled into their work. Sometimes the words they have sent with their piece describes the moment they were in too. … ‘bubble wrap – used to wrap things to pack up and move to the loft and also representing protection that we all need to help us through this challenging time. ‘Fragile’ tape to seal the boxes, and also representing the fragile sate of the world at this moment' ... ‘this little bundle of wool is gathered from the fences around West Cumbria where we have been since lockdown was announced it’s bound together with some yarn that is being knitted into a garment for our first grandchild due in July’ .. Alone with the small works and everybody’s experiences of the Covid-19 crisis I find myself thinking about the pandemic too and as I do this I am drawn further and further into the constant commentary that surrounds it. I have started listening to the World Service, so I am reminded that this is a global crisis not one confined to the UK with its constant narrative of bungled testing initiatives, the lack of PPE and the shameful abandonment of care homes their staff and residents. Now as lockdown eases in some places at least there is a developing conversation speculating on what the pandemic will mean for our future lives: the trauma of relationships dramatically changed by the prohibition of human touch or lives tragically curtailed by death alone in hospital, education put on hold and an economy ruined unable to recovery for decades to come. There is an overwhelming sense of being at the epicentre of a historic event.

Above top and bottom, two sketches of contributions to

my Covid-19 Project

COVID - 19 Project Brief

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Christine Borland

Small Objects that Save Lives, 1996

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This artwork comprises 170 individual photographs, all similar in size to a postcard, laid out in a large grid. Each photograph features an object nominated by an individual as being 'life-saving'. The artist contacted individuals on a gallery mailing list and asked them to send her the objects. Many of the objects included are humorous, others are quite poignant, or unusual. They range from practical, everyday objects to the bizarre and unique. The artist's approach can be likened to that of a museum cataloguing artefacts

Dear All

MA project and Covid-19, help required!

Firstly, I hope you are all well and assuming you are I have a small appeal to make. As you know I am currently studying MA Fine Art, Painting at Camberwell College of Art.

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the course is now being taught entirely online and whether or not we have a physical or virtual (online) degree show is up in the air. Though I never imagined these would be the circumstances I would be studying under they have bizarrely presented me with an opportunity, a project that I am hoping you will be able to help me with.

What I am asking is for you each to make a simple handmade object by following the guidance below to contribute to a collective artwork. I do not want to add to anyone’s anxiety at this time. Participation is entirely optional!

The focus of my MA research is to examine expressions of personal and collective trauma in the work of contemporary artists. At the moment we are all having to deal with the Covid-19 ‘lock-down’; learning to deal with our isolation and for some, our role as a key worker. All of us are dealing with the effect of having our usual contact with friends, family and colleagues severely limited or curtailed. Each of us personally has to find a way of reconciling ourselves to this and accepting this strange and unique set of circumstances and yet this is a worldwide collective experience too. It is these two aspects of the experience that I intend as the theme for the work.

I must stress that you do not need to worry about your own artistic abilities, the only important thing is the contribution of something, it can be as simple as a word and a shape or something more complex. I will figure out how to use and bring together whatever I receive in the final piece. This element of the unknown is also part of the concept behind the work!

There are thousands of images on the Internet connected to the Coronavirus outbreak which you may find it helpful to look at. I have included a few images at the beginning of this email of artworks you may find interesting or a help to visualise possible final outcomes: a single work made of disparate elements.

This invitation is addressed to individual family members and friends from different areas of my life, but I would like to involve as many people as possible, so could you invite members of your household or circle of friends to participate too. Please ask them to note your name when sending me their contributions so – like the virus – I can track the lines of contact! I must stress again that participation is optional and all or any contributions will be very gratefully received.

Inspiration or guidance notes

A fabric shape, regular or irregular, that can be easily posted in an A5 envelope, 16cm x 23cm

The fabric can be new, old discarded, a piece of old clothing whatever you like

The fabric shape is to be decorated in any way you think fit, stitched, stuffed, drawn or written on or painted, collaged, knitted or crocheted, cut up and stuck or stitched back together, several circles layered

It can have a thickness to it and can be bigger or more than one piece, the only constraint is that you should be able to post it to me

It should be double sided

White should be the dominant colour, or a neutral cream, grey, black, beige etc

Use a mixture of materials if at all possible

Use paper if fabric is unavailable or too difficult for you to work with

Include words if you wish

One single shape or as many as you feel inspired or able to make

Do feel free to contact me if you need any more information or have any questions.

Thank you to everyone who does participate, I will make sure you are all able to see the final work if not in the flesh then in photographs. Please be assured that all contributions will remain anonymous unless I ask you specifically for your permission to mention you name. The collective nature of the work will be made clear whenever the work is exhibited or a photograph of it is shared.

Please send your contribution to me by Friday 15 May 2020: