The City of Hobart’s outdoor art gallery now hosts a new installation inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic. Created by two local artists, the art exhibition titled Beyond the Pandemic features eight artworks created by photographer Jake Seabourne and digital artist Malachi Johns. The exhibition focusses on community responses and recent experiences associated with physical isolation and the other challenges imposed from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The art exhibition is currently on display at Art on Victoria, the City of Hobart’s outdoor gallery, which is curated by the Council’s Youth Arts and Recreation team. The space was initially designed to channel graffiti vandalism and now forms an integral part of the art program through the Youth ARC which provides an avenue for emerging artists to express themselves.

Due to the impacts of Covid-19, the experiences of the last few months have deprived many of us of connection – this was echoed by artist Jake Seabourne who wanted to express the emptiness and insecurity of the pandemic through a series of photographic self-portraits. The style of the portraits themselves reflects the limitations of the pandemic and the disconnection which occurred throughout our communities.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds described the exhibition as an opportunity for young artists to engage in our collective social recovery of the city, whilst illustrating their talents.

“Creative expression is such an important outlet when faced with any traumatic event, benefiting both the artist and the viewer,” Cr Reynolds said. “These works respond to a shared experience to which we all have a personal connection.

The art exhibition will be on display for the next six months in Victoria Street in Hobart’s CBD.

Image: Photographer Jake Seabourne and digital artist Malachi Johns