An inspirational painting which pays tributes to the heroes of the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic is now on display at The Atkinson in Southport.
‘Strength, Hope and Recovery’ has been created by acclaimed street artist Paul Curtis, who is currently painting the mural at Toad Hall in Ainsdale.
Paul has also created the Red Rum mural on Scarisbrick Avenue in Southport; a mural of Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams in Anfield; and the iconic Liver Bird wings in the Baltic Triangle.
Strength, Hope & Recovery is currently on display in the foyer at The Atkinson, as part of a tour of art galleries in the region. .
At Paul’s request the Strength, Hope & Recovery painting will be auctioned next year in aid of Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool. The painting will tour galleries across Merseyside, after which the painting will be donated to Alder Hey. The hospital’s fundraising team are currently in the planning stages of an art exhibition event that will take place in Spring 2022, at which the painting will be auctioned.
The University of Liverpool commissioned Paul to create an original artwork for their annual magazine’s cover, based around the famous Liver Bird wings. Strength, Hope & Recovery was the result of this collaboration.
Paul Curtis said: “The painting tries to sum up 2020. Last year was a pretty dark year and many people have suffered.
“But undoubtedly, we’ve seen heroes emerge from that darkness, in particular, the NHS staff on the frontline.”
In the painting, the nurse represents those heroes. She is kneeling (a reference to another strong image from 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement), head bowed but undoubtedly in a posture of strength rather than defeat.
Paul Curtis said: “I tried to position her so that she appears as though she is ready to take off. “The wings have broken free of the wall [which] is symbolic of lockdown, and are now part of her. Together they represent recovery and hope
“People often tell me that For all Liverpool’s Liver Birds gives them hope and positivity. They link the image with their loved ones, so hopefully many people will feel a personal connection to the piece.”
The hospital’s fundraising team are currently in the planning stages of an art exhibition event that will take place in Spring 2022, at which the painting will be auctioned.
Strength, Hope & Recovery is currently on display in the foyer at The Atkinson.
Updates about the auction will be made on Paul’s social media.
@PaulCurtisArtwork on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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