Alter Us: Is this Normality

Post lock down events have begun to roll in, however we will soon be restricted once again, so I have taken the opportunity to experience some contemporary art. The Alter Us: This is Normality exhibition at Clerkenworks was a collection of images which have been created by aspiring international artists during lock down. The idea behind the show was to display various perspectives and artistic viewpoints on the current political, social and socio-economic situation.

Ludmila Sigismondo, who I have previously written about, was one of the artists' featured. One of her exhibited works represents the concept of lockdown romance or forbidden love, in a very relevant and modern way. She paints a young couple, attempting to kiss, yet inhibited by the barrier of their masks.

Ludmila's second image portrays the restfulness of the lock down period; for many people it was a time to find zen, as represented by the Japanese style windows and garden in the background of the sleeping figure. She views lock down in a more peaceful light.

Other artists' simply took the opportunity to depict the streets of London, without the mass of crowds swarming in and around landmarks. It has given people the opportunity to reflect on the city as it would have been in the past; less populated and more imposing.

Seeing other people's emotional and internal experiences of such a strange situation, is a great way to gain a multi-faceted view of the situation. Not everybody is experiencing it in the same way. The image above is nostalgic, and escapist, whereas the image below is a cyclical and monochromatic image, which suggests turmoil and repetition; it is the Ground Hog day of images. The image below is also reminiscent of travel, perhaps representing the longing for movement and exploration that many of us yearned for during lock down.

Does the painting below remind you of anything? Personally, I see the dis-jointed and colourful style as an amalgamation of Futurist works (read about them in my Frivolous Futurism post) and Picasso's Guernica. This is my type of art!