Artist creates pandemic-inspired dioramas using COVID test kits and face masks

An artist has created fun pandemic-inspired dioramas - using COVID home test kits, syringes and face masks.

David Gilliver, 42, spends up to an hour arranging the 2cm-tall clay figures with virus paraphernalia to create each scene for his 'Pandemic' series.

The images show people sunbathing on a lateral flow test, a man fishing in a sample tube holder and tennis players having a match over a syringe.

He photographed them using his Canon 5D Mark III and 100mm Macro Lens in January and February in his home studio in Gartcosh, Glasgow.

David said: "The pandemic has been so challenging for so many, and it is incredible to think that two years have now passed since the first national Lockdown began.

"The main objective of this work has always been to lighten the mood slightly and to
help people crack a smile at the thought of me using things like facemasks and
syringes to make the work with.

"A sense of humour has been sorely needed over the past two years."

David has been re-appropriating model railway figurines in colourful dioramas for over 20 years, and wanted to poke some fun at Covid for his 'Pandemic' series.

He said: "Once I have each scene set up just the way I want it, I will photograph it from multiple angles, up to 50 times, in order to ensure that I have managed to capture the diorama in the most impactful way.

"The main challenge normally relates to being in a patient mood, as it is quite a fiddly and delicate process."

To see more of David's work visit www.davidgilliver.com or his Instagram @dgilliver.