Reliving History, or How I Spent my Lockdown
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I have been married almost 22 years. My husband always laughingly complained, “Why are you buying all that antique, vintage stuff- velvet dresses, lace, grandma’s knickers and old baskets? What are you going to do with them?”
Well, I showed him! Not only did those items save our lives and budget during Halloween and fancy dress parties, with us not having to rent or make anything, but if friends came to my door asking for a Geisha costume or John Wayne-type cowboy saddlebags, I was ready to help.
Besides, I always loved the smell of vintage shops and clothing: someone had worn them and enjoyed them- white dresses someone got married in, a tiara which was loved once upon a time! Memories came with every item I brought home.
My children shared my passion, and many times we flew across the world with them dressed as a superhero or fairytale character; the only negative me being left to carry their luggage!
Besides wearing vintage clothing, it is environmentally friendly, and we protect the planet from unwanted thrown-away clothes. But enough of that.
When the coronavirus lockdown was announced in Georgia, I, as a reporter, was given a special pass to drive around the city of Tbilisi. But I decided to be safe and stayed home most of the time. My husband and daughter found their quiet spots in the house to work and study, but I was restless; unprepared to sit quietly and wait as time passed. I continued my reporting for work, yes, but still found something missing. I’m a happy character by nature, but I also felt a need to uplift others during these stay at home days.
As an author of two culinary books, I thought I would use the time to complete my third book project, but I had to put this idea on the back burner because while sorting through some clothes, an idea came to mind. I turned to my husband for help. “David, listen,” I told him. “Look at this lovely replica painting we bought in the Louvre. Let’s recreate it. The first photoshoot was easy and fun, and little was I to know how the idea would grow from there when a colleague of mine, George Lomsadze, saw my post and challenged me to re-create the famous Rustaveli art book by Kobuladze. We took up that challenge that very same day, and the rest is history.
I didn’t want to follow one particular theme, instead desiring to recreate and relive those persons and characters that are close to me, and whom I feel I understand. I also didn’t want to follow only art, and so went through the photographs and images that had stayed imprinted in my mind from movies or magazines.
Grace Kelly and her Prince, Diana, Pirsomani’s wonderful ladies, Cruella de Vil, Kim Kardashian, geishas, Liz Taylor, Coco Chanel, Barbare Jorjadze, Julia Child, Prince Philip and the Queen herself, Victoria Beckham, Queen Victoria, Rembrandt and Saskia, Sophia Loren: all characters that we recreated using only my clothes, jewellery, decorations and items around the house- no photoshop or substantial alterations. The biggest “special effect” I went for was to put flour in my hair to make it grey. My daughter helped to create the background for the poster in our ‘Gone With The Wind’ piece.
The reception from the public was absolutely astonishing and unexpected, and I received endless shares and likes and comments about our pictures, which I had made merely for personal entertainment. I had no choice then but to make the project public for everyone to enjoy- my crowns and tiaras got well used!
We had great fun throughout the project: people felt happy and they smiled, something you really need during such uncertain times. I managed to get not only my husband and daughter involved, but also my mother, her dog and even our pet hamster Darbi! He did well as ratatouille!
I can go on forever, but we have to end somewhere, and tonight we have decided to bring our project to a close because most of the characters that lived in my head have now been revisited. These pictures will stay with me forever, and although the quarantine is not over yet, the easing of restrictions is gradually happening, so we have to start to think about going back to reality.
Thank you to everyone who joined the fun!
By Helena Bedwell