19/10/2020

Covid19 Pandemic - Artist Research (Freyja Sewell)

“London-based designer Freyja Sewell has created eight decorative face masks, made from commonplace objects including felt, yoghurt pots and pool table triangles, in honour of coronavirus key workers. […] Each of the eight main groups of key workers outlined by the government, including health and social care, education and childcare, key public services and local and national government, has been given its own vibrant, symbolic mask design.”

Images and citation: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/02/freyja-sewell-key-workers-masks-design/

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Freyja Sewell - Key Worker Masks (2020)

I immediately got drawn to the visuals of those “Key Workers Masks”, because of the vibrancy and strength of the colors of each monochromatic photograph (mask), but also because of the highly creative volumes, shapes and symmetry that reinvent, in a unique and transcending way, an object we have learned in those past month to use daily to protect ourselves and others, the mask. When reading about Sewell’s artwork and project, I loved her idea of using recycled, reclaimed or biodegradable objects, that she had at home during the lockdown, showing that we can make art from anything. I also love how her artworks pays a real tribute to all those workers (key jobs that sometimes go unrecognized), giving a message of hope and encouragement, but also entangling in its creation her culture and science fiction, making her work personal and emotional.

It makes me think of how I can transform any object within my environment, into a work of art and how an artwork destined for the masses, or specific target can also be very personal and reflect your identity as well as your voice.

Research

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