As part of our ongoing development with our client, we worked with an artist to develop proposals for the COVID 19 art in the community competition. A story of resilience, adaptability, patience, hope and health
Corona Virus has circled the earth and evolved many times in the past few years.
No matter how hard Humans have tried to control the spread of Covid-19, the virus has evolved and continued to spread. Many lives have been deeply affected over the last few years. There have been 5.96 million deaths in the world to date, the world has been shaken by this virus and many of our lives will never be the same.
Our movements have been restricted in an attempt to control the spread, we were asked to keep at least2m apart. Lines were marked on pavements and walkways, indicators of where it was acceptable to stand – the dynamics of our space was altered – an invisible 2m box was placed around everyone who was not of the same household.
We were asked to cover our faces with masks and to ‘stay safe’. Smiles were hidden by fabric to protect us and stop the spread of the virus. No smiles seen in public. NO EMBRACING, NO SHAKING HANDS, NO TOUCHING. Families were separated in life and death, and basic human needs were altered.
Bridge Concept
A Bridge can be real, figurative and metaphorical, helping people get safely from one location to another – we all travelled across a bridge in some form, helping each other across despite our restrictions.
Hands Holding Hands Rail Concept
The concept for the Hands Holding Hands Rail is both memorial and symbol. It is a memorial to the importance of human touch and how many people were unable to hold the hands of loved ones, even those who were dying. It is also a symbol of hope. A symbol of the effort of all Key Workers who worked tirelessly to keep our country going while we were all asked to stay at home. Now we are at a stage where we can hold hands with loved ones, maybe we won’t take it for granted.
Handrails guide and support our journey over a bridge; therefore helping each other, cross over to the other side in a simple expression of human kindness. Members of the local community who have lost loved ones or who are Key Workers invited to make casts of their hands extending across the bridge in a continuous rail of helping hands.
Masked Element of the Bridge
One side of the bridge has the hand rail, the other side of the bridge has metal folded shapes like face masks to remind us all of the united effort in stopping the spread of the virus.
It became law that we covered our faces in public. The mask became a barrier to protect others and ourselves from the spread of the virus. The mask covered half of our face so only eyes were shown, our understanding of facial expression was tested. Through muffled words and hand gestures, we had to rely on our eyes to interact.
Five Pillar Monument
A Five Pillar Monument with seating placed around five pillars representing characteristics we all had to adapt so we could continue our daily lives despite the obstacles around us:
• Resilience
• Adaptability
• Patience
• Hope
• Health
These words are laser cut into the pillars and they will be lit on a night to remind us of the human characteristics that shone through to help each other through the world wide pandemic.