I remember: scotland’s covid memorial
Alec Finlay, George Logan, Roxani Krystalli
‘I remember: scotland’s covid memorial’ is a visual document of the memorial artwork and walk created by Alec Finlay in Pollok Country Park, Glasgow.
I was asked to capture the unique character of each oak ‘support' and their relationship with the trees and surrounding woodland landscape. I was given free rein to create images in response. Due to less than ideal weather over the few months before the deadline I managed only five visits to Pollok Park to photograph the 40 sculptures placed around the park. Very much a case of hitting the ground running and formulating a quick yet considered and sympathetic response to each sculpture and location. The horizontal images were created keeping in mind being used as a two page spread.
The images selected here are not those to be found in the book* (you will need to buy the book:) but ones I'm happy with. The book picture edit was made with myself, Alec and Kate McAllan.
'In her reflective introduction, Roaxani Krystalli asks how we might effectively produce a memorial to commemorate an ongoing event – one which still impacts the lives of so many every day: ‘What they-what we-have lost is varied, and so are our responses to that loss and to each other’s pain’. Finlay adds that: ‘While the text of the book recognises that the pandemic is ongoing and will not end if we continue in this way; that one in ten infections leads to Long Covid; and that the political classes have failed to provide adequate leadership; the images bring the heart closer to the landscape of memory itself, the acts of kinds and solidarity that sustained us, and which are expressed in the pose of each support’. This book is a companion to ‘I remember’, a collective remembrance of the pandemic, which was published in 2002.'
Paperback book, printed b&w, edition of 400 copies, morning star & Stewed Rhubarb, 2024, 44 pp, 29 images, RRP £7.50 + p&p
Purchase details here: https://www.alecfinlay.com/books
* one or two are.
