A photo study of the 2020 Lockdown
on independent venues and small business
in Hobart, Tasmania
by emerging artist Honni Cox
“Tasmania’s economy has traditionally relied on small businesses, from bars and cafes to hair salons and florists. The recent COVID-19 outbreak has impacted many of these businesses more than any other event in living memory. As a result, we have seen unprecedented levels of closure and unemployment. The paradoxical scenario before us is that in order to continue in the future, we must suffer in the now. In short, to save our society we need to shut down our society.
My inspiration for the portraits came from watching the workers of our independent business’ forced to tiptoe the line between livelihood and life. I was reminded of the subjects that many photo-journalistic images captured from the Great Depression. And while their aesthetic may have slipped into antiquity, the emotions have not.
We do not yet know what our society will look like upon its awakening. There will possibly be a hangover and unease to its initial movements, before a return to normality. My intention is to provide a perspective of various scenes that we are encountering so that upon a return to normality we have documentation of this surreal time. Like images from the Great Depression, having a reference for these events gives us context to the nature of the world we live in. I aim to explore the human and fragile aspects of the current climate and the effect on those of us impacted by it. I document it because like many I can’t fully understand it while it is happening, but hope the work will aid reflection.”
– Honni Cox
Thanks to the following:
Salamanca Arts Centre
ARCHIVALink
Michael Cox Joinery
Dirty Pennies
Gold Bar
Next Door Cafe
Raincheck Lounge
Grinners Dive Bar
Eye Am Hair
Oddfellows Bar and Eatery
Hobart Brewing Company
Captain Blighs
The Page And Cup
Lash and Brown Social
Shoebox Cafe
Willing Bros.
Fiori Florists
EXHIBITION DATES:
Saturday 9 – Monday 18 January 2021
10:00am – 4:00pm daily
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All prints in ISLAND BOUND are 1 of 1 signed, and framed with a handmade Tasmanian wood frame. Each print has a corresponding voucher for the venue pictured. In the case, the venue has closed due to the hardships of the pandemic they have nominated another Hobart business to receive that voucher.
Frames by Michael Cox
Michael has 41 years as a carpenter/joiner. With a passion for native timbers and historic architecture and design, he has worked on many notable Tasmanian projects including the Anubha Health Retreat, the creation of Tasmazia’s ‘Cubby Town’, historic maintenance on Hobart’s Customs House and Post office, and monument creation for the Anglesea Barracks.He is a third-generation carpenter with his grandfather starting the family profession in Ulverstone in 1925. Michael also passed on his love of historic documentation and design to his daughter Honni Cox.
Printing by Luke Wagner, ARCHIVALink
Artist Luke Wagner is an incredible artist in his own right. His oil paintings have been capturing the Tasmanian landscape and history since 1994. Luke also runs Wagner Frames providing support and high-end products for his fellow Tasmanian artists and ARCHIVALink providing highend printing for contemporary artworks and photography.
Special thanks to:
Jarrod Brown – for helping my moral compass, philosophical thoughts, and concept development.
Sam Kirkpatrick – for driving to venues on your days off, proofreading everything I write, and endlessly supporting my crazy ideas.
Image Credits: All photographs by Honni Cox (2020).
Hobart Brewing Company (07/04/2020). Alex Grant & Jimmy Green – Brewers. Hobart Brewing Company managed to continue brewing throughout lockdown, however their tap room was temporarily closed.
Next Door Cafe (30/03/2020). Autum Summers & Jungo Battaglene – Baristas. Closed on 03/03/2020 and Re-Opened 04/05/2020
Lash and Brow Social (13/04/2020). Closed 24/03/2020 and Re-Opened 08/07/2020. The closure came 14 Days after opening as a new business.