NEWS: Lady Kitt’s Open Call Out for #Portraits4PPE

Image: Areema Nasreen by Lady Kitt

One thing this ‘new normal’ still sorely lacks is a bit of artsy culture. Dabbling in some watercolours or charcoal sketching, or even a virtual gallery tour or two, doesn’t always scratch the arty itch. That’s why Lady Kitt’s latest project is so exciting. 

“I’m commissioned by Disability Arts Online to curate this online exhibition of portraits of people doing amazing things during the pandemic. All of these portraits are by disabled artists, and they can be in any medium.”

Kitt’s contribution is an extension of their running art series WORTH, in which they enlist papercutting to create portraits of significant figures in bank notes made out of tiny cut out hearts.

Kitt’s work is never without social conscience; their WORTH series is a testament to their ability to create for a cause, even in the most dire of circumstances. The most pressing question on everyone’s lips is how to stay safe in a global pandemic. We’ve all heard about PPE – or Personal Protective Equipment – but sadly we’ve also heard about the deficit in the medical and care industry. So now, Lady Kitt has chosen to commemorate nominated individuals who deserve the WORTH treatment.

“We’re in lockdown and don’t have access to banks and physical money, but also it seems not very useful to be cutting up hundreds of pounds worth of money when so many organisations and individuals are struggling. For those reasons, it won’t be on £50 or $50 bills, it’ll be on the notes I happen to have in my house – I’ve been making money art for years so people send me their old notes from holidays. I have a huge collection of banknotes from all around the world.”

The whole exercise doubles as a fundraiser to help buy PPE for those underprovided areas, which may help to reduce transmission to essential workers, and save lives. 

“The WORTH pieces have been exhibited all over the world – and six have been sold. The pieces for this project, just the ones I’m putting into this exhibition, are being sold for the Carers’ Charity. So I really would just like them all to sell!”

Alongside Kitt’s own work displayed in the online exhibition will be portraits made by disabled artists selected through an open call, to be included visit the website for further information (deadline 6^th July)