Anna Bean: House of Fun

Anna Bean is a multi-disciplinary artist who also works under the pseudonym Bluebeany. Within her work she is interested in exploring the possibilities of the transformation of the everyday. She works on commissioned pieces with performers and also collaborates with friends and family who appear as subjects within her photographic work.

"I recently completed the commission 'House of Fun'. This work was commissioned by Absolutely Cultured as part of their Creative Micro Commission Programme. My concept was to create an animated film capturing the normal becoming abnormal, an anxiety nightmare of isolation during a lockdown. I utilised the visual metaphor of a haunted house, the inhabitants held captive by the dark entity of COVID-19 hovering outside the apparent safe confinement of the home.

My narrative developed and the virus crept its way inside the home to be confronted, not by a homely space, but a nightmarish location full of freaky objects and strange characters who eventually scare the fearful virus from the dwelling. Alongside this disturbing domestic setting, the TV transmits an equally nightmarish level of disinformation. I have incorporated this sense of political horror into my narrative with the use of a clown-like bumbling greedy politician shown on a TV screen.

This project has been a true family collaboration. My son Louis Bean created original music for the discordant soundtrack and my partner features as the politician and the dancing Love Leopard. All three of us have shared the lockdown experience together. Creativity has kept us sane and occupied during this strange time. During the lockdown I have also been running an online Art Club on Sunday afternoons where I invite people to make some artwork based around a theme. Some of the artwork is featured within the virtual room settings of my House of Fun. During this crisis it has become ever more apparent how much creativity can promote positive mental health."

You can watch House of Fun on Youtube, or see more of Anna's work on her website.

CuratorSpace are currently featuring articles by artists, curators and organisations who want to share their experiences of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, whether that is artists using their practice as a way of exploring new boundaries of isolation, or as a way to connect more broadly with their communities. We are also interested in hearing from curators and organisations who are offering support to artists and audiences during this time.

Contact us at louise@curatorspace.com to share your story.
 

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