“Pandemic Reflections: An Artistic Chronicle of COVID-19 in the UK”

A documentary capturing the repercussions and aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom will premiere this week at Flowers Gallery in London (March 23) and subsequently at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester (March 23-28).

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COVID-19

Crafted by artist Simon Roberts, the 33-minute film titled “An Avoidable Loss, A Failure of State” commemorates the fourth anniversary of the initial official Covid-19 lockdown in the UK, instituted on March 23, 2020. Notably, the first phase of easing lockdown restrictions commenced over eight weeks later on May 10.

According to a project statement, the film prompts viewers to reflect on the profound impact of the crisis, delving into themes of grief, indignation, and posing critical inquiries regarding the government’s handling of the situation. It promises an immersive experience that may evoke deep emotional responses.

Within the film, the voices of key politicians who navigated the UK through the Covid-19 crisis, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, accompany visual representations of mortality figures set against a coastal backdrop. Hancock’s statement in the film—”There is light at the end of the tunnel; we know that together we can beat this and we’ve got to stick at it”—is juxtaposed with readings of the names of the deceased by actor Rory Kinnear.

Moreover, the film features the voices of relatives of the bereaved, condemning the government’s handling of the public health crisis. Last June, Johnson resigned as a Conservative MP following an inquiry into the Partygate scandal, where government and Conservative party personnel gathered for rule-breaking events at No.10. During the UK Covid-19 inquiry in December, Johnson refuted claims that he disregarded people’s suffering, stating it was “simply not right.”

Roberts, speaking to The Art Newspaper, emphasizes the political nature of the film, attributing much of the frustration felt by bereaved families to government actions and the behavior of certain political figures within the Conservative party.

The film’s inception stems from Roberts’ series of photographs titled “A Daily Sea,” where he captured daily images on Brighton beach during the initial UK lockdown. The series, which juxtaposed sea views with related text and daily coronavirus mortality figures from the Office for National Statistics, has since been acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.