Virtual exhibition captures experiences of living through lockdown

A virtual exhibition documenting the lives of local photographer, Kev Howard and writer Lisette Auton through lockdown, has been commissioned by Kirkleatham Museum to help people reflect on their own experiences of living through lockdown.

From sunrise to sunset the exhibition take us through this strange way of life we have become used to – our thoughts, our fears, our pre-occupations and our hopes – and how the world around us changed.

The 'Living through Lockdown' online exhibition is available to view at teesvalleymuseums.org/exhibition/planet-breathes/view-exhibition and features stunning photographs of the area by Kev Howard accompanied by observations and reflections of the journey through lockdown by writer Lisette Auton.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, Cllr Louise Westbury said:

“Lockdown has had a huge impact on all of us and this online exhibition helps us to think about our own experiences of living through lockdown – how we feel, what we have lost and what we have found.  

“The photography is fantastic and the writing really makes you think about the impact of lockdown so I would encourage people to take a look for themselves.

“Thankfully the future is starting to look brighter with the roll out of the vaccine and when we can all visit our museums again Kirkleatham Museum plans to work with local people to turn 'Living through lockdown' into a physical exhibition for visitors to enjoy."

Writer, Lisette Auton, added:

“From an artist and freelancer's perspective the first lockdown and then the continuing slog were laden with challenges; all work vanishing overnight, work morphing into online, lack of collaboration in a physical space.

“Kev and I relished this opportunity to work together, we clung onto it, our heart and souls are in this exhibition.

“The support we received from Kirkleatham Museum was invaluable, but so too was the support for each other. Since last summer we have kept our weekly 11am Friday video call, the friendship this project created has seen us through."

For further information about Kirkleatham Museum please visit https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/kirkleatham-museum/