
Art / Creative Lockdown
Creative lockdown: Melanie Vaxevanakis
Melanie Vaxevanakis is part of the ongoing Bristol24/7 Creative Lockdown series, showcasing how people in Bristol have been getting arty under lockdown.
“For me, taking photos has been the most significant and helpful pastime throughout lockdown,” says Melanie Vaxevanakis, a photographer from Southville.
Melanie, who works as a junior production coordinator, found a focus in photography – taking photos being the most significant and helpful pastime during lockdown.
is needed now More than ever
“A couple weeks into the lockdown, I was missing capturing stories of people,” Melanie explains. “I put through a note in my neighbours door asking if they would like to take part in a neighbourhood project (from a distance of course) and had a good response back.
“Two metres apart, I chatted to neighbours I had never met, nor spoken to about our experience, our ups and downs which, in itself was lovely and grounding.”

Melanie asked people to pose with things that have got them through lockdown
Melanie asked each person she photographed to hold a prop that has represents what has helped them through lockdown, and has had everything “from bikes, to musical instruments, to pregnancy books to paintings”.
The photographer hopes to create a book featuring all the photographs, with donations going towards Above & Beyond, a charity supporting Bristol’s hospitals.
See more of Melanie’s work on Instagram via @melanievax and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/melaniesjournalism
To share your work, email lowie@bristol247.com with a bit of information about you and how you created your masterpiece.
All photos: Melanie Vaxevanakis
Read more: Creative lockdown: Nicky Ebbage