Art / Creative Lockdown
Creative lockdown: John D’oh
John D’oh is part of the ongoing Bristol24/7 Creative Lockdown series, showcasing how people in Bristol have been getting arty under lockdown.
An urban artist from north Bristol has been creating coronavirus-themed street art “motivated by a sense of political or social injustice” and “the need to inform or remind the public about these important issues”.
Normally motivated be issues including the environment and the government, John D’oh has turned his attention to Covid-19 for his latest artworks.
“While in this current climate it would be nice to produce lots more art, I have for the most part obeyed the lockdown and social-distancing rules. It has given me time to prepare stencils and other artworks at home for the future.
“One might question the need to paint on an actual wall if everybody is inside isolating themselves. Yes, people will still be able to see the images on their phones through the internet. But, because of the lockdown, there is a growing public awareness that social media does not necessarily combat loneliness or replace real human interactivity.
“We have seen people in Britain clapping in their gardens and Italians singing from their balconies, socially coming together and reclaiming the public space as they simultaneously distance from one another physically.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-olERbFWTb/
John is painting less during the lockdown as he observes government rules. Although art supplies are more difficult to get hold of currently, he is enjoying getting more resourceful, reusing what would otherwise be considered rubbish, with empty cereal boxes becoming much-needed cardboard for stencils.
John adds: “Because a lot of my art can be political I am not usual offered as many legal walls as other artists as councils are very keen to jet wash or paint over my work. At the moment I imagine that graffiti may last for longer than usual as many street artists aren’t out painting over other people’s work and the local councils have other pressing priorities than cleaning their walls!”
See more of John’s work on Instagram via @johndohart, or visit www.john-doh.co.uk
To share your work, email [email protected] with a bit of information about you and how you created your masterpiece.
Main image: John D’oh
Read more: Creative lockdown: Angus
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