Beyond the sanctuary of your front door, it is hard to forget we are in a pandemic. Whether you are getting some vitamin D on your mid-morning walk or you’re hitting the supermarket for rosé on a Friday night, there promises to be a multitude of other walkers, or shoppers, wearing masks.
Face coverings will undoubtedly remain engraved in our minds as a reminder of the extraordinary times in which we are living. However, while we have all marveled over the images of the empty streets of London in Lockdown, it is much less common to see masked people in photographs.
Therefore, in an endeavor to permanently document the impact of masks on society, award-winning photographer, Joanna Vestey, collaborated with AT The Bus, a charity based in a converted double-decker bus that supports the mental wellbeing of young people aged 7-18 across London and Oxfordshire. The project aims to raise £150,000 from the limited-edition prints, which are signed and authenticated by the photographer.
The series comes at a vital time for the charity that is battling with the impact that the pandemic continues to have on the health of young people. No matter their artistic background, AT The Bus educates children on the uplifting power of creative expression, and these portraits will ensure the bus reaches as many people as possible.
AT The Bus art classes take place in the unique, custom-made studio space, which is a safe environment for the young people who benefit. Meanwhile, the exterior of the bus was designed by London-based artist, Camille Walala.
Baroness Valerie Amos, Daniel Kidane, Dawn French, Andrew Scott and Philippa Perry are among the 24 diverse individuals to pose for Vestley- all of which showcased the ultimate accessory of the pandemic, their mask. The series stretches across several industries- capturing the most preeminent of artists, fashion designers, lawyers, and authors, among others, in their natural habitat.
To ensure you really are taking home an authentic souvenir of Covid-19, Vestley captured her star-studded muses at a two-meter distance- so you’re not going to forget about the social distancing restrictions either.
If you're feeling inspired to extend your gallery wall, you can view our inspiring ways to turn art into an installation.
The photographs will be available to purchase online, AT The Bus, for £150 until the end of March.
Purchased a new photograph from the series? Check here if you're looking for a stylish way to hang art in your home.
