Home Wallpaper design - Bin-surfing in Lockdown

Wallpaper design - Bin-surfing in Lockdown

Object

Printed Ephemera

Production date

2020

Object number

2022.69

Physical Description

Sample of a wallpaper design by artist Angela Groundwater. White background with a green grid. Overlaying this is a repeating design in brown and greens showing food items, books, chairs, a toy monkey, books, shoes, a duck and heron.

Object history

In early 2020 the Hackney Brocals were working with artist Angela Groundwater on a piece with them about their struggles with isolation and loneliness and the steps they were taking to combat it.

The introduction of a national lockdown in response to the Coronavirus pandemic created an unprecedented threat of loneliness as the bros stayed at home alone. Throughout the rest of 2020 the men shared their personal stories of lockdown with Angela and one another over Zoom, asking: What had they been doing? How had they been coping?

The results are these custom-made wallpaper designs that weave together the men’s memories, histories and treasured possessions, to create a portrait of a year unlike any other.

Associated Event

Associated Organisation

Associated Person

Groundwater, Angela (Artist)

Material

Paper-based

Dimension

Height: 830mm
Width: 533mm

Exhibition Label

From the exhibition 'Out of the Mancave' [18 May 2021 – 5 February 2022]

Bin-surfing in Lockdown

During lockdown, I’ve been doing a bit of bin-surfing. Twice I found 40 plantains! I make plantain smoothies; bread; cakes. Part of our diet is based on what I get from the bin. I wash everything!

I have these spray-painted gold shoes that I wore in a show for Posh Club, which is a cabaret for the over-60s.

I’m kind of a bird person now. In the kitchen I look out of the window and I see the visitors.

I spend time on the terrace. When the weather permits it’s a great place to hula-hoop.

There is a small toy, that my partner, Allen, gave me. A sort of puppet, like a wooden monkey.

Donald Hutera, 64

On display?

No