300 life-size key worker figures on display to commemorate NHS
An installation of 300 life-sized figures of key workers is on full display at Coombe Abbey Country Park – an artist’s way of paying tribute to all the efforts and sacrifices of NHS staff and key workers throughout the course of the pandemic.
Photo Credit: Coventry Live
The huge display of figures will remain at Coombe Abbey until Friday 29 October 2021, with hundreds of people having already looked at the mesmerising exhibition.
After its initial launch in July from Oxford, the display will tour various locations across the country under the ‘Standing with Giants’ campaign name.
‘Standing with Giants’, are also fundraising for ‘NHS Charities Together’ and its community project, helping the installations to travel around the country.
With Coventry representing the UK’s City of Culture for 2021, the exhibition will no doubt lend itself to everything that City of Culture title encompasses.
Dan Barton, the Artist who founded ‘Standing with Giants’, based in Oxfordshire, said “It’s a tribute to the people involved on the frontline of COVID, and we are still in the midst of the pandemic. It honours their courage and commitment.”
The figures are all made by creatively reusing composite aluminium boards that are attached to steel frames. Each figure is individually hand cut and painted and assembled – taking around three months to complete the entire display.
On the reverse side of the figures, the black paint symbolises remembrance, with a white face mask to represent the harsh realities of Covid-19. When viewed from the back you will see a sea of silhouettes with face masks.
Cllr David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Arts in the city, said “I’m really pleased it is here and that Coventry City Council is hosting it in such a perfect location. It’s a great public art exhibit, and here for people to come along and interact with and share their messages and feelings.
Visitors have also added their own touch to each of the figures by writing heartfelt messages that pay their respects to frontline workers – whether this may be their relatives, friends, or co-workers.
Photo Credit: Coventry Live
The campaign is almost entirely reliant upon volunteers and donations from the community, meaning that every contribution goes a long way. The incredibly moving display is a must-see for anyone that wants to show their support for the NHS.