Lockdown, with the thoughts, feelings and emotions which it has engendered, were the genesis for this piece. Being housebound, constrained and our physical social interactions limited to the bare minimum, this is how I, like many of us, will remember this phase of our lives. We have been separated from others by distance, plastic screens or protective clothing, having to adapt and morph our lives to satisfy the more limited existence presented to us.

This work is composed of a squashed latex balloon which is squeezed into the doorway, trapping those within and keeping the world out. The balloon also represents the claustrophobic and restrained feelings which many of us have had to endure during this challenging time.

Parallels to the lockdown are also translated through the size of the balloon at two metres, being the distance which individuals in the UK had to keep between them to conform to governmental rules. Furthermore, the balloon is composed of latex, the same material as the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by the brave NHS and other key workers who risked their lives to combat the virus and ensured that the wheels of our society continued to turn.

The name Plugged In, represents both the physical nature of the block between the home and the outside world but also references the method we have all used to remain connected to the world, via technology, which has provided a vital conduit for human interactions to continue.

Photo and video credit: Linyue Kang