This work was commissioned by Absolutely Cultured as part of their Creative Micro Commission Programme. My concept was to create an animated film capturing the normal becoming abnormal, an anxiety nightmare of isolation during a lockdown. I utilised the visual metaphor of a haunted house, the inhabitants held captive by the dark entity of COVID-19 hovering outside the apparent safe confinement of the home. My narrative developed and the virus crept its way inside the home to be confronted, not by a homely space, but a nightmarish location full of freaky objects and strange characters who eventually scare the fearful virus from the dwelling. Alongside this disturbing domestic setting, the TV transmits an equally nightmarish level of disinformation/misinformation. I have incorporated this sense of political horror into my narrative with the use of a clown-like bumbling greedy politician shown on a TV screen.
This project has been a true family collaboration. My son Louis Bean created original music for the discordant soundtrack and my partner features as the politician and the dancing Love Leopard. All three of us have shared the lockdown experience together. Creativity has kept us sane and occupied during this strange time. During the lockdown I have been running an online Art Club on Sunday afternoons where I invite people to make some artwork based around a theme. Some of the artwork is featured within the virtual room settings of my House of Fun. During this crisis it has become ever more apparent how much creativity can promote positive mental health.
