#STAYHOMECUTLINO

#stayhomecutlino was established by artist Rachael Hibbs as a way of bringing linocut printmakers together. The substantial effect that lockdown has had on the arts and culture industry has seen printmakers shift their work to online platforms, promoting themselves more through social media. The Instagram hashtag has become increasingly popular during lockdown for printmakers all over the world. The movement was largely inspired by the #stayhome PSA campaign to keep people safe during the COVID-19 outbreak. In just a few short weeks #stayhomecutlino began to trend and printmakers from all walks of life are using the hashtag to virtually display their work. “At first it was just a way to gain inspiration for myself, but it has now become a safe space for people to showcase some truly inspirational artwork” explains Rachael.

@rlhprints

@flintkat

@maarit.hanninen

During this time a lot of people are turning to linocut as a way of expressing themselves. The meditative actions of carving can be extremely therapeutic and calm anxieties. “I found carving this lino gave me some solace in the early days of lockdown. It helped me focus my emotions, and channel them into something concrete when my head was all over the place” describes participant Cally Conway.

@callyconwayprints

@indiarosebird

Many printmakers often work from community funded studios. With lockdown preventing them from staying open, artists are having to adapt to work to different situations. As India Rose Bird explains; “I usually work in the technique of woodcut and engraving. The open access studio I usually print at has been closed due to lockdown. The hashtag inspired me to try my hand at something new which I could create and print easily at home. I’m not used to lino but I felt like suddenly had a lot of time to experiment with it.”

@matpringle

@kathleep

Art can help us cope with reality through escaping into another world. Mélissa Lacaze has perfectly captured the concept of isolation in one of her latest prints; “The idea of the isolated cabin surrounded by forest was inspired by the fact that I live in a city apartment and the absence of nature was the hardest thing to handle. It was ultimately a daydream inked onto paper.”

@naiive.fr

In just a few short weeks the hashtag has gone from just a couple of photos to over 1000 posts from printmakers all over the world. #stayhomecutlino has sparked a sense of community during a time when some feel very alone. As printmaker Sarah Reed McNamara states; “Being home for an extended period of time right now with my children, I oddly have less time to carve my lino blocks, but when I do – the time is sacred. I look forward to it so much. Most linocut artists seem to love the carving process and it’s my very favourite part of being a linocut artist.”

@srmprints

@amy.hiley.art

You can follow the movement at #stayhomecutlino and @rlhprints.

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