AN artist is using Bradford Council’s arts and cultural Covid Response fund to create “funky face shields” and other items documenting social issues arising from the pandemic.

Mussarat Rahman uses recycled materials, clothing and other objects found around her home to create a series of striking installations with an apocalyptic theme.

“The lockdown had a massive impact, I lost a lot of work due to Covid,” she said. “It’s a difficult time, we’re bombarded with bleak images, news and misinformation, leaving people confused, depressed and raging. The shortage of PPE is shocking, and sending kids back to school in June is ridiculous. I wanted to create something in response to this, and to bring some humour to lift people’s spirits.”

Mussarat began her project, called Apolypto, by making garments and other items reflecting the shortage of PPE in hospitals and care homes.

“I made face shields that have been stylised to look funky and glamorous. I’ve also collected newspaper headlines and sewn them into a shoe and a skirt. I bought specific things I needed such as plastic sheets but have tried to be resourceful in my use of materials while the shops are shut,” she said.

“My artwork embodies elements of post-apocalypse, urban design, funk, South Asian heritage, spirituality, and nature.

“This pandemic, and the way it has been handled by the Government, has brought to the fore how much poverty needs tackling. There are a lot of social issues coming out of this.”

Mussarat runs community projects and works with Bradford refugee and asylum-seeker organisation Biasan, devising and delivering arts and cultural activities.

During lockdown she has been helping to organise food parcels and craft packs for young families, and is collecting resources for Biasan from Bookstart, the BookTrust programme which give free books to pre-school children.

“Much of my work addresses themes of migration, religion, spirituality, materialism, politics and gender. One of my projects, ‘Humanising’, is currently part of the Saltaire Digital Arts Trail,” said Mussarat.

She says her Apolypto project has been a “lifeline” during lockdown: “It has given me a focus and an opportunity to continue with my artwork. I’m combining visual art with writing to create crossover pieces. I feel like I’m documenting the social changes of the pandemic through my artwork and my aim is to create larger pieces and a body of work that can be displayed in Bradford.

l For more about Mussarat’s work go to instagram.com/mussaratrahman and Twitter @mussaratrahman