SWANSEA Council has commissioned two renowned Welsh artists to create a permanent memorial to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The council has jointly appointed Catrin Jones and Angharad Pearce Jones and makes this announcement just before this Sunday’s (March 9) UK-wide Covid Day of Reflection.
Council leader Rob Stewart said: “The impact of Covid continues to live with us every day.
“We promised all those in Swansea affected by the pandemic – those who lost their lives, their families, our emergency services, social care workers, those who stepped up to support their neighbours and very many more – that we would honour and remember them.
“The memorial will be a permanent focal point of recognition for those that were affected for remembrance and reflection, for the unity that was inspired by our collective experience and hope for the future.
“Swansea’s Covid-19 memorial will be shaped by the voices of those it represents.
“Through community engagement led by the artists and supported by the council, we want to ensure that the location, design and meaning of this tribute reflect the experiences, resilience and memories of Swansea.”
Elliott King, cabinet member for culture and equalities, said: “It will be a challenging piece of work because, for many of us, the impact of the pandemic was felt at such a personal level.
“We’ll never forget those who died or their families. We’ll all have our own stories and memories of sadness, togetherness and hope, and our aspiration is that this will be reflected in the designs Catrin and Angharad bring forward as a unifying and poignant memorial.”
Catrin and Angharad were appointed following an open application process, inviting UK artists to participate. Both artists have created works of public art located across the UK, including in Swansea.
Catrin created the acclaimed sea-life murals on the new seawall in Mumbles. A 50m work in tubular steel created by Angharad and commissioned by Sustrans can be found on railway bridge sidings in Clydach near the Mond Nickel plant.
In their successful submission, the artists said any memorial should commemorate not just the bereaved, but also the health and social care staff, the frontline workers, the scientists who developed the vaccines, and everyone else whose combined efforts played some part in combatting the virus.
They’re aware of how Covid impacted – and continues to have an impact on – society through matters such as long Covid, and children and young people in education. It’s planned that their commission will involve community engagement to create an overarching narrative.
Catrin Jones said: “This is an important commission for both of us and we look forward to working together to deliver a meaningful and poignant piece of public art for Swansea.”
