Beached made during lockdown, reflects the experience of feeling depersonalised as an immunocompromised and medically shielded artist during the COVID19 pandemic. The work was made with the same limitations as the artist, using only materials in the artist’s home at the point of lockdown. Objects relating to this autobiographical experience were combined with cast driftwood, symbolic of feeling beached/ stranded. Driftwood like the virus returns in waves. Fragmented doll parts represent the depersonalisation of being removed from society and the lack of agency of being told to stay inside and feeling puppet like. Cast hands and arms reference washing hands to prevent COVID-19 and the inability to shake hands and embrace.  Femurs represent mortality and our human fragility during this current pandemic.

The sculpture is held together by bloody bandages reflecting the harm the pandemic has caused humanity. They also reference Florence Nightingale, the NHS and the new Nightingale hospitals and connect to the artists dual identity of doctor and patient. The driftwood is arranged in a form resembling COVID-19 and rendered to look meat-like a reference to the wet markets where COVID19 allegedly originated. COVID19 is often red in electron microscope images but this colour is artificially given so that we can see it. It is actually colourless as it is too small to absorb or reflect light. Red is symbolic of danger. The entire sculpture is invaded by bats the supposed vector.