THE heroics of NHS staff and key workers throughout the pandemic is highlighted in a new portrait exhibition.
The exhibition, entitled Portraits of the Selfless, will be on show at Copperdollar Studios in Kemp Town on Saturday, July 31.
The exhibit, produced by Hove-based photographer Holly Stone, focuses on the stories of 16 NHS staff and key workers who worked throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Holly, who took the photographs in the summer of 2020, said the workers shared their struggles of working conditions, lack of government understanding and trauma.
“When the pandemic began, the majority of us went into lockdown. We lived among fear, uncertainty and worry for our family, our friends and our health,” she said.
“Life as we knew it changed very quickly and we all had to adapt. However, for some, life didn’t change a great deal and they continued to deliver day after day, pushing their own fears aside.
“They kept society ticking over when we needed it most and I couldn’t stop thinking about those people in the thick of it.”
Holly said the NHS staff were talked about as heroes, but still not properly acknowledged.
“The doctors, nurses, health care workers, teachers, bus drivers, cleaners, delivery drivers and shopkeepers - the list goes on,” she said.
“It felt as though they were often referred to on the news but were being talked about as statistics or heroes, and not being properly acknowledged at all.”
The photographer said she wanted to highlight the “sacrifice” the workers made.
“These are their real experiences in their own words, most of which are both fascinating and harrowing,” she said.
“It's been the most inspiring and joyful experience to meet these incredible humans and an honour to be trusted to share their stories.
“Despite what each person was going through - they all smiled, laughed and told me that they wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”
Alice May, one of the 16 workers photographed for the exhibition, said her biggest achievement was nursing an 84-year-old lady through the pandemic “as no one else would”.
“She has dementia so wasn’t aware of Covid and wasn’t too bad luckily,” Alice said.
“I would have caught it myself just to make sure she was ok, but I guess it’s just part of it. I was happy I made a difference and will always continue to do so.”
The exhibition will take place at Copperdollar Studios in Montague Street from 11am to 5pm on July 31.
A mask must be worn at all times, while social distancing and a staggered entry will also be in place.
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