The effects of coronavirus pandemic have not only been physically exhausting but also mentally debilitating for many people across the world.
To battle with this, Selfridges – a chain of high-end department stores in the United Kingdom – has come up with an initiative that is tapping luxury retailers and their community of creatives. The initiative is called ‘Creativity is Not Cancelled,’ whereby Selfridges has commissioned seven artists from across the globe to form their own art. This has to be based on the word ‘together’ and the artists get the freedom to express their art in any form they want.
The retailer feels that the closing of borders and social distancing has had a huge impact on communities across the globe. Selfridges feels that it is even more important right now to find ways that can help everyone stick together.
Creativity is Not Cancelled
“Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing their work and celebrating creativity as an antidote to these challenging times,” said the retailer in a post that is shared on social media.
These new collaborations range from playlists to paintings, encouraging artists around the world and removing any physical barriers of distance between them.
Emily Derrick, a Senior Creative Direction manager at Selfridges said, “Art helps us to reframe the narrative and now, more than ever, it can help us to deal with our individual journeys at this time.”
How the artists are collaborating for this
Poet James Massiah responded to this with his poem ‘Long Ride’ that pretty much summarised our day-to-day lives in a witty form. He quoted that humour often does the trick for him and this can be used as a source of escapism to celebrate our creative processes.
Each of us has an individual way of finding joy during these times, and when we share it, it can bring optimism to others when they really need it the most.
Artists Alex Paganelli of DeadHungry fame, who focuses on inventive food photography, had shared similar thoughts. Speaking about this, he said, “If ever there’s a time when we should understand how to live and work closer as a community, it’s now.”
He gives a virtual tour of all the yummy feasts that you can devour considering that your favorite eat-out places are now shut down.
Selfridges added, “We hope you will find inspiration in this series. You may not have trained as a cook, poet or painter, but there’s no time like the present to learn a new craft. Now is the time to experiment more than ever; creativity is not cancelled, and there is freedom to be found in each of its fantastic forms.”
No matter where you are, and how you feel during this pandemic – give some time for yourself. Everything might be cancelled but creativity is not. Take advantage of this freedom and enrich a skill.
Let us know which skill you plan to enrich in the comments below!
