Picturing Lockdown was a Historic England project to capture the nation’s experience of life in lockdown for a week of the Coronavirus pandemic. This exhibition explores the theme of community within the collection.
A compilation of images submitted as part of Historic England's 'Picturing Lockdown' project (2020) by Various photographersHistoric England
Picturing Lockdown
From 29 April – 6 May 2020, ten commissioned artists, five Historic England architectural photographers and the English public picked up their cameras and sent in their stories. Out of 3000 submissions, 100 public entries, 50 artist commissions and 50 from the in-house team were selected to form the collection.
In this period, nearby surroundings were inescapable due to travel restrictions, magnifying our relationships with people and places. Picturing Lockdown is a window into local lockdown life, covering a spectrum of emotions and experiences.
This exhibition explores the theme of community within the collection.
'Latics Lockdown', Boundary Park, Oldham (2020-04-24) by Stuart BennettHistoric England
Lockdown
Communities are bound by the places where they connect - physically or digitally.
On 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a national 'lockdown' to stop the spread of Covid-19. Spaces to meet, gather and unite were closed indefinitely.
Communities had to find new ways and places to stay connected. Some brought the fun indoors, others went online but for many, nothing could replace the feeling of being with others.
"Missing the football, the atmosphere, the shared highs and lows and the community of football at Boundary Park where like-minded souls come to worship on every other Saturday. Keep the faith! X" - Stuart Bennett (Oldham)
'Lockdown? Make Your Home a Place for Worship', Blackburn (2020-04-25) by Zulfikar PatelHistoric England
"Not being able to go to your place of worship makes you realise how fortunate we are to have these facilities. To bring that aura of a mosque to the home we built and decorated a small mosque for the kids at home." - Zulfikar Patel (Blackburn)
'Annual Scout Promise Renewal on St George's Day', Sutton, Greater London (2020-04-25) by Jin TongHistoric England
"My kids have to do their annual St George's day promise renewal online which normally happen outdoors and it's one of most important events for scouts across England." - Jin Tong (Sutton)
'Home Alone (One, is the loneliest number)', Gateshead (2020-05-01) by Aiden MosebyHistoric England
Aidan Moesby was one of the ten artists commissioned for the project. His practice is concerned with the emotional and psychological language of spaces.
"...When the white noise of digital lockdown subsides this screen message from google hangouts encapsulates the joy of down time and heightened degree of isolation. It questions the experience of alone-ness and the boundary of domestic home on both sides of the curtain – blurred by the digital/work invasion into the home." - Aidan Moesby (Newcastle)
'Clap for the NHS', Stepney, Greater London (2020-04-02) by Shuvaseesh DasHistoric England
Local
Lockdown measures made people more aware of their immediate surroundings.
Efforts were forged to strengthen community bonds and help others. Street WhatsApp groups, drinks with the neighbours and clapping for the NHS brought hope and deepened connections with those nearest.
Each of the commissioned artists selected one public submission from their region for the collection.
London-based Roy Mehta chose Shuvaseesh Das's image. Mehta said "...this one encapsulates the reality of the ‘Lockdown’ for so many people. The framing enables us to see the couple in context and the clapping on the balcony can only refer to the current support for the NHS. Matched with the sombre look on their faces makes this a powerful image."
'Socially Distancing Gardeners', Dulwich, Greater London (2020-04-24) by Sara LloydHistoric England
"As part of our 1 hour of exercise a day and in accordance with government guidelines...a small group of gardeners are maintaining the kitchen garden at a local charity during lockdown." - Sara Lloyd (Greater London)
'Socially Distanced Soaking', Plymouth (2020-04-13) by Ali HoodHistoric England
"Back lane fun on a hot spring day. Two friends ‘fight’ til they’re wet through and their buckets are empty. Their innocent giggles and indignant shrieks reminders of days past, and of those that will come again." - Ali Hood (Plymouth)
'Pharmacy', Beauford Square, Bath (2020-04-20) by Jamie BellingerHistoric England
"For me, this image symbolises the community spirit that has blossomed during this time. Though we can't have contact with each other, we find ways to stay connected. These neighbours had placed their chairs carefully at a safe distance from each other, and were enjoying some sunshine and champagne together on their quiet road..." - Jamie Bellinger (Bath)
'Drinks with Neighbours', Groby, Leicestershire (2020-04-11) by Paul HindleHistoric England
"We have become a closer neighbourhood, socialising with, and running errands for, the people on our street. On sunny days, fence panels have been removed so we can have a natter and a drink 'together'." - Paul Hindle (Groby)
'Showing Support for the NHS on the South Downs' (2020-04-24) by Charles GaisfordHistoric England
Landmarks
From bedrooms to barley fields, new signs and symbols of community have sprung up around the country.
Physical manifestations of togetherness creatively provided unexpected moments of delight, pride and empathy.
"Everyone has been wanting to demonstrate their appreciation for frontline health workers. Farmers showed their support for the NHS, carving this message into fields close to the Hampshire village of East Meon. It was quite a dramatic sight." - Charles Gaiford (East Meon)
A Lego rainbow in the window of a house in Stroud, Gloucestershire (2020-04-29) by Steve Baker, Historic EnglandHistoric England
Historic England photographers each contributed two sets of five lockdown photographs for the collection.
In one set, Steve Baker focused on family life."A Lego Duplo rainbow made by my family to grace the upper window of our house." - Steve Baker (Stroud)
'Little Free Library', Norwich, Norfolk (2020-05-04) by Peter OffordHistoric England
"The vinyl gloves are washed and ordered by day to ensure no transmission of corona virus..." - Peter Offord (Norwich)
'Help Yourself - Fresh Today', Leeds (2020-04-25) by Gill CrawshawHistoric England
"This is a typical example of the displays of neighbourliness that people are showing in lockdown. An anonymous neighbour offers home grown produce to whoever might pass by. I did help myself to some of this rhubarb. It made a delicious rhubarb fool later." - Gill Crawshaw (Leeds)
'Pebble Towers, Whitley Bay', North Tyneside (2020-04-27) by Sue NicholsonHistoric England
"These pebble pillars have been constricted during lockdown; some are dedicated to the NHS. My dog and I did our daily exercise on the beach, instead of the local park, especially to see them: one high tide and they will be gone so it's a unique moment in time." - Sue Nicholson (Whitley Bay)
'Untitled', Bristol (2020-03-22) by David TaylorHistoric England
People
People are the beating heart of every community.
Collective action is only possible through individual efforts. By lending a hand, listening and leaning on each other, lockdown demonstrated the importance of communities in times of crisis.
"Prior to 'lockdown' my wife made daily visits to see her 96-year old mother at her residential care home....regular communications are now via telephone with only a weekly approved visit that entails a phone conversation through a window, as this photograph documents." - David Taylor (Bristol)
'Nurses Clap for One of their Own', Farringdon, Sunderland (2020-04-30) by Emma DullroyHistoric England
"Friends and colleagues of [aunt] NHS nurse Fiona Anderson who died from covid-19 working in the frontline clapping for one of their own" - Angela Anderson on behalf of Emma Dullroy (Sunderland)
'Miss You Grandma', Bexhill, East Sussex (2020-04-03) by Lucey BannerHistoric England
"On our weekly visit to drop essential supplies to my parents, my son found this ball in the garden and started trying to play with his Grandma. Although it’s a blessing he doesn’t know what’s going on, it’s equally heartbreaking that he doesn’t understand why she can’t come down for a cuddle and play." - Lucey Banner (Bexhill)
'Cora and Nesta cooking at Rainbow Junktion', All Hallows' Church, Leeds (2020-05-04) by Coralie DattaHistoric England
Leeds based photographer Coralie Datta was one of Historic England's ten commissioned artists.
Datta's work is concerned with the way communities function. Her series for the collection focuses on new neighbourly bonds.
'Family Grooming', Shoreditch, Greater London (2020-04-17) by George TorodeHistoric England
"..This haircut was given in the front garden of a house in Hackney. At present I'm sporting a bushy beard and uneven fringe courtesy of my better half." - George Torode (Central London)
'Jaminder Hayre', Penn, Wolverhampton (2020-05-02) by Anand ChhabraHistoric England
Artist Anand Chhabra was one of Historic England's commissioned artists. Chhabra's work explores memory, place and family in the Black Country.
Chhabra spotted this shopper on his daily excursion. "I followed him and started a conversation with him about his amazing COVID-19 outfit ...he said he gets stopped a lot...He said he can’t take any risks with his health as he recently had major heart surgery and is worried about getting the disease."
Curated by Olivia Bright. All quotes courtesy of individual photographers.
Discover the whole Picturing Lockdown Collection.
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