During the period of nation-wide lock-down in New Zealand (March-April 2020) due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Aigantighe Art Gallery invited the South Canterbury community to submit self-portraits as a snapshot of the unprecedented times. These could be conventional painted or drawn works, or “selfies” taken on a phone camera. The works could be emailed or posted on the gallery’s Facebook or Instagram pages, and were to be collated and exhibited in an exhibition when the gallery was able to re-open. The response from the community was amazing, and the results were eventually printed on large banners and displayed in the gallery’s Foyer space in late November 2020. My pen and ink Self Portrait In Lockdown was also featured on the large advertising banner for the exhibition.

(Photo by Roselyn Fauth)