Heroes of COVID-19 pandemic honoured in Chichester Cathedral nativity scenes
The artwork will remain in the cathedral until 3 February
Last updated 11th Dec 2020
Heroes of the coronavirus pandemic are being honoured in special nativity scenes at Chichester Cathedral.
The Chichester Nativity is a new art installation featuring emergency service workers and staff from charities who are partners of the historic site.
It has been created by visual arts advisor and curator Jacquiline Creswell, and artist and photographer Ash Mills.
The immersive photographic installation shares the familiar story of the nativity in the style of a renaissance tableau.
Characters in the scene have been drawn from local organisations, charities and medical services, including the Bell Tower Drop-In, Chichester District Foodbank, Chichester Festival Theatre, Sanctuary in Chichester, Stagecoach, Stonepillow, Wellington Grange and West Sussex NHS Partnership.
They have then been paired to the roles within the nativity.
Angels are acting as guardians of health and wellbeing; shepherds as providers of food and resources and the Magi as people who have learned from experience and are now leaders of their community.
Each participant was photographed individually, before being edited into the image.
The photographic artwork has been printed onto sheer voile banners and hung above the cathedral’s historic Arundel Screen, leading into the Nave and Baptistry.
There is a traditional scene of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus surrounded by shepherds in the arches on either side of the Arundel Screen, while the arch on the opposite side of the Screen is filled with scenes and characters in the story.
One large banner is located above the Arundel Screen, with characters in the story pointing to the new born child.
The Star of Bethlehem is represented with an image of the recent Neowise comet which visited close by the earth during lockdown.
The artwork also incorporates part of Chichester’s 540 year-old Market Cross.
The Very Reverend Stephen Waine, Dean of Chichester, said:
"The Chichester Nativity presents a poignant reflection upon the traditional scene familiar to so many.
"It is an uplifting symbol of our community coming together in a challenging year and will act as a lasting monument to these extraordinary times and the heroes who have done so much to make a difference.
"I invite everyone to experience this unique artwork in the cathedral at this jubilant time of year."
Meanwhile visual arts advisor and curator Jacquiline Creswell, said the scene is filled with symbolism that conveys an important message at Christmas time:
"It has been a great joy for myself and Ash to be the creators of these glorious voile banners, which capture the spirit of the season by demonstrating connectedness, unity, love and community in a time of increased separation."
Artist and photographer Ash Mills, added:
"It has been a huge pleasure for me to create the images for The Chichester Nativity and to bring to life the vision that Jacquiline and I had for the installation.
"It was a daunting but rewarding process to create the scenes, with each banner image made up of around 50 layers, including the wonderful cast and everything else from goats to halos!
"It was humbling to be able to feature some of the heroes from the Chichester community in this project, and I hope that they feel being immortalised this way reminds them all of the appreciation we all have for them."
The installation forms part of the cathedral’s advent and Christmas campaign Drop Down, Ye Heavens, which also includes a pre-recorded carol service available through the cathedral website, live-streamed services and online spiritual resources to access from home, which include activities for children and families.
The artwork will remain in the cathedral until 3 February.