Bojo The Clown (2021)
Lino Print on Card
8.3" x 11.7"
Hands, Face, Waste of Space (2021)
Photography Series
I decided to begin responding to the theme of "Pandemics" by researching the HIV/Aids epidemic that took place in the 1980's, and I found there were lots of social and political issues tied in with it, as well as some similarities with the current Coronavirus pandemic.
I was particularly interested in both the Aids activism posters created by artist collectives at the time, and by protective masks and how they have developed throughout history.
For my own work I have created posters targeted towards the government and their poor handling of containing the virus. I felt that in times of isolation it is especially important to try and interact with the community, which is why I placed my posters up around my local area. I am also interested as to what type of response they might provoke as I live in a very right wing area, where many of the residents are of retirement age.
Edited Facebook responses in relation to the work above
Wear A Mask ( 2021) Gouache on Canvas
16" x 12"
In this piece I decided to focus more on the Aids epidemic which largey affected the LGBT+ community, resulting in homophobia and demonisation of sex. The government at the time refused to acknowledge Aids or even mutter the word as it was not something that affected the general population, meanwhile people who were a part of the affected communities were watching loved ones drop dead without warning. If the Regan had acted faster and more information about safe sex had been spread many of these deaths could have been avoided. I wanted this piece to highlight a contrast between the natural human desire to have sex and romantic relationships with the fear and panic which would have been experienced at the time.