2020 was an unprecedented year for us all! In a world enveloped in fear, it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Coronavirus stopped the world functioning as normal, and we all worried for our families, our jobs, our homes, and the future. Emotionally, physically, and economically it all took its toll on us. Life as we knew it was gone, our basic human need for a hug was not safe any more. Nothing lasts forever and life will return to normal, where we will once again be able to hug our loved ones.

I work as a Photographer and a community Art Teacher. I know the importance of the creative and cultural industries within the community and it is important for people’s mental well-being. The Arts have been subjected to crippling cuts for many years, but this year was the hardest. Theatre, events, festivals, exhibitions, and creative workers like myself were affected hugely. 

During 2020, I found myself walking more than usual. When the lockdown first happened, the streets were ominous with an almost apocalyptic feel. The main streets were devoid of people. Only a few cars on the road. The city was dormant. I then found myself taking the less travelled path and sometimes seeing where my feet would lead me. I documented it all incessantly, from COVID-19 notices in windows to empty streets to NHS rainbows to the toilet roll shortages. Photographs capture history and I had to keep creative. 

As the year went on, I pined to find something different to photograph. In my adventures, I discovered new urban curios and hidden green spaces around the city. In Spring, I walked through St Peter’s Cemetery with its beautiful cherry blossoms and shrapnel marks on the graves from the second world war. I discovered new works of street art dotted around in the nooks and crannies of the city. Painted stones and rainbows for the NHS scattered around the community to raise spirits and show support. I photographed a range of local street artist’s work around the city that I found, including the Black Lives Matter mural down the Tunnels and the ever evolving works at the legal wall in Sunnybank and Donside. I admired the architectural details of the city, the Doric columns and stain glass windows. I curiously visited the new harbour to document development as I had been documenting it’s progression since work began. Finding ways to escape into nature and spotting wildlife within my city by sauntering along the River Don and Dee as well as other green spaces within the city. Always with my camera in hand. Really being at one with the elements and nature has always been a pastime of mine, with the pandemic it was my solace. The creative industries had to adapt or fold when COVID-19 hit. When I heard that NuArt had to be cancelled, it saddened me. Thankfully the NuArt team adapted and brought more amazing art pieces to the city. As the international artist’s couldn’t travel to Scotland, the artist’s sent their art pieces to NuArt and volunteers pasted them up around the city. NuArt did not tell the public the locations, making it a kind of treasure hunt to find them. I spent the month of April hunting down these artworks with much joy! In November, St Machar’s Cathedral underwent restoration to the roof, outer walls and inside the Cathedral. I was lucky enough to view its famous heraldic ceiling and stained-glass windows up close. The ceiling had not been touched since 1964 and had only been touched by a lucky few. It was exquisite to see the rich colours of the 48 heraldic shields and perfect gothic inscriptions around the walls so closely. Our guide informed us on the full history of the Cathedral, grave markings and their meanings and the specialist equipment they use to clean the cathedral. An unforgettable experience, touching the past is always so exciting to me! In December, I worked with Aberdeen Street Art at a safe distance. They were commissioned to paint the portrait of local hero Thomas Glover as well as a range of other work influenced by Thomas Glover connection to Japan. Credit to Artist Mush for the Thomas Glover portrait.

Even though the city is still shut down and a lot of things in 2020 had been cancelled, we can still marvel at the Art and Culture on our doorstep. A sunrise or sunset sky is art, a neighbour playing an instrument for their street is art and a kind conversation with a stranger that can turn their day around can become part of our culture. Let us hope that the silver lining of this unprecedented time has a long-lasting effect on the culture of us humans to be kinder with one another. Remember, sunrises are not cancelled, music is not cancelled, conversations are not cancelled, exploring is not cancelled and hope is not cancelled. And someday soon, we will hug, laugh and dance together again.