Emmy Lupin has created a giant illustrated art installation which depicts a selection of the heroes and memes that the UK was looking at online during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Commissioned by network provider, Three UK, the 25m tapestry art installation – one of the first public displays since easing of lockdown – shows various online moments according to the number of mentions they had on social media over the past few months.
These include garden-strolling pensioner Captain Tom and tiger-loving nutcase Joe Exotic, affable PE-enthusiast Joe Wicks and writer, comedian and actor Daisy May Cooper; as well as "the Wembley Lasagne" and parents' struggles to become default teacher for a while.
Eagle-eyed viewers can also look out for Chanel, the infamous parrot who made a bid for lockdown freedom. Almost 70 events or people are represented in total.
"Lockdown has seen a rollercoaster of trending moments, playful antidotes to the global crisis that has enveloped us," says Lupin. "In years gone by, woven tapestries have been created to commemorate key events; this piece is intended as a modern take on that—a tapestry for a connected world."
She adds: "From Joe Wicks to Joe Exotic, Connell's Chain to Captain Tom, House Party to Animal Crossing, the Boris Johnson Peri-ometer to Daisy May Cooper and the Sea Captain, and TikTok dances alongside Stanley Tucci's cocktails... it showcases a moment in history and some of the many things that we will never forget."
Key cultural topics were selected based on the UK's social media mentions from March to July. Some of the most talked-about moments overall include (number of mentions in millions): Virtual Events & Livestreams: 4,006m, Black Lives Matter - 500m, Boardgames – 285m, Home Schooling – 244m, and Daisy May Cooper & The Sea Captain – 199m.
Some of the most talked-about people and memes were Captain Tom Moore – 57m, TikTok: Blinding Lights Challenge – 56m, The Big Lasagne – 44m, Connell's Chain – 22m, and Tiger King – 19m.
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