Locked Up in Lockdown

Curated by Carla Marrinan Funder of the National Print Museum

This exhibition explores art and design ‘locked up’ and printed during lockdown in Ireland. The exhibition features work by Maser, Annie Atkins, Damn Fine Print, One Strong Arm, and Richard Seabrooke and collaborators. The works have brought joy during the global pandemic and raised funds for worthwhile charities.

Annie Atkins and
Damn Fine Print

Designed during the first weeks of the pandemic, these faux-public-service posters were a collaborative effort between Annie Atkins, Damn Fine Print, and their followers on Instagram, as people sent in their best tips for getting through a pandemic in good spirits. Prints were limited to a run of 100 of each edition and were entirely sold out within a fortnight. All proceeds were divided between the Irish charity Alone, who support older people at home, and St David’s Hospice in North Wales, who cared for Annie’s mother, Mary, when she died in March.

Annie Atkins is a graphic designer for the film industry, creating artwork for movie productions such as Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies and Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel – which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Production Design. Her work can also be seen in Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, his upcoming French Dispatch, the JOKER movie, and Spielberg’s upcoming West Side Story remake. Her book on the subject has recently been published by Phaidon: Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps, Designing Graphic Props for Film.

Damn Fine Print is an open access screen printing studio offering courses, events and artist residencies in the heart of Dublin. Since 2011 their range of services has grown from screen printing and risograph production at their studio in Stoneybatter to include pop-up events, courses and collaborations with clients all over Europe. Open to the public, their studio also serves as a print shop, member workspace and art gallery.

Annie Atkins: Make Your Bed, 2020; two colour hand-pulled screen prints; edition of 100 — Annie Atkins: Dress For Dinner, 2020||two colour hand-pulled screen prints; edition of 100

Annie Atkins: Keep Apart 2020; two colour hand-pulled screen prints; edition of 100 — Annie Atkins: Keep Apart 2020||two colour hand-pulled screen prints; edition of 100

Maser

For many, home has recently become a destination for work, education, creativity and communication in equal balance. It is not just a place to share moments with family or friends, it is now a place that keeps us safe. 50% of profits from Homebird went directly to the Mater Foundation to support frontline staff and patient care in the fight against COVID-19. In addition, the original Homebird painting was raffled with the whole project raising €30,000 for the Mater Foundation.

Over the last 25 years Maser has earned much respect professionally and has generated a large and dedicated following both in Ireland and internationally – through his seamlessly imaginative and unique graphic style. Maser boasts an impressive list of exhibitions and has created work for Lazarides (UK), National Gallery of Ireland (IE), National Library of Ireland (IE), Tandem Press (USA) and Graphic Print Studio (IE). He even collaborated with the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins on a series of bespoke limited edition prints. In addition to his artistic practice, Maser established Atelier Maser in 2018 – a creative studio and gallery space located in the heart of Dublin city.

One Strong Arm

Under Strange Circumstances is a series of letterpress prints created during the global lockdown in 2020. The series explores the themes that came as a direct result of the pandemic. The prints are intended to spread a little joy during trying times, and raise some much needed support for frontline services.

The prints were free, with a suggested donation, and 100% of the proceeds going to a selection of charities.

One Strong Arm is a letterpress print studio run by artist Dave Darcy, established in 2014. OSA creates contemporary typography-led work using traditional methods. The studio output usually takes the form of typographic responses, reactions and interpretations of culture and societal observations. Created using an ever-growing collection of antique wooden and metal type, coupled more modern techniques and processes

Tenth Man, Damn Fine Print, Hens Teeth, The Locals, Mack Sign Painting, and Signal Type Foundry

Following the announcement of the pandemic and government advice to stay home, Richard Seabrooke began exploring the word HOME in the style of Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE and HOPE artworks. Irish people have a particular love of their houses and abodes but this guidance was a test of our relationship to our homes, given we were locked down, not allowed to venture beyond 2km from our residences. The last six months have proven the need for us all to have safe refuge and homes more than ever. This special screen printed edition of HOME was a collaboration between Tenth Man, Damn Fine Print, Hens Teeth, The Locals, Mack Sign Painting, and Signal Type Foundry; a joint effort to raise funds for Pieta House and the Dublin Simon Community.

Richard Seabrooke of Tenth Man is Creative Director, Curator, Collaborator and Connector with over 25 years experience working with the most iconic Irish and international brands and organisations. Seabrooke says “The whole project, from initial social post to delivery of sculpture and artworks, was a matter of a few short weeks and was received really well, and is a testament to the contributors and their collective energy.”

Tenth Man, Damn Fine Print, Hens Teeth, The Locals, Mack Sign Painting, and Signal Type Foundry: HOME, 2020; three colour hand-pulled screen print, printed two-ways, each in an edition of 100

Notions Creative:
HOME, 2020

The last part of the project is the sculpture to the front of the building. The sculpture, produced by Notions Creative, was placed in front of the Lord Mayor’s home on Dawson Street one afternoon during lockdown – a surreal experience to drop such a beautiful piece, which would likely have become social fodder on any normal day, on to an abandoned city centre street as a reminder to people to stay home to protect themselves and others too.

Notions Creative is a young Dublin-based fabrication company, founded by Jamie Maguire, that focuses on a user-centric approach to design/fabrication. They specialise in event builds, festival builds, bespoke designs, fitouts and installations. The business pivoted overnight from festival and bespoke builds to mastering work from home flatpack furniture.