Manchester artist captures coronavirus pandemic through series of digital drawings
- Chorlton-based artist's #covidlife series recives more than 1,000 likes online
- Digital art series is collection of images documenting covid-19 pandemic
- Art needs support from governments to continue to flourish, says artist
A Chorlton-based artist has produced a series of pictures depictioning life in Manchester during the coronavirus pandemic.
The works of art by Amanda Beck-McKim are a collection of digital images documenting the abnormality in everyday life faced-in a time of crisis.
When she posted the work to the Chorlton Facebook page they received an overwhelming response from the local community – with the images gaining more than 1,000 likes.
The former embroidery graduate from Manchester School of Art has been a practicing artist for more than 25 years and has been successful with her passion for community-based projects.
She said: “When I posted them on the Facebook page I was quite overwhelmed by the response to them because it got over one thousand likes and comments.
“I thought there is was a real appetite for people to be able to identify with what’s going on, and I think recognising their local community and the places they know seems to be quite important to people.”
There is real fear from artists that due to the coronavirus and the lack of support shown by the government, that the UK could become a ‘cultural wasteland’ if funding is not forthcoming.
Amanda said: “I think these are the things that are really rich about Manchester. We need art more than ever at this time, we need people to reflect on what’s happening as well.
“So many artists I know have been making art packs, doing lessons, making videos – doing everything they can to carry on working and getting things out there to people which have probably made a real difference during the pandemic.”
She is hoping the art will remind people that they can support each other through difficult times.
“There was the whole thing of that connection with the community during the pandemic and that idea of people talking to their neighbours, and relying on each other,” Amanda said.
“I like being able to record what’s going on around me and making art people can identify with, it’s an ordinary setting in an extraordinary time.”
Visit mcrblogs.co.uk/wiredandwild for more of Amanda’s work
Wired and Wild on Facebook
Amanda Beck-McKim on instagram