News / coronavirus

Kites flown to remember loved ones lost to Covid

By Martin Booth  Sunday Mar 24, 2024

Families gathered on the Downs to fly kites featuring a photo of a loved one lost to Covid.

The memorial event, called Ascension, was organised by artist Luke Jarram, with black and white portraits sewn onto specially-made kites.

The kites were flown near the Sea Walls on the fourth anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown.

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Portraits were sewn onto specially-made kites

Artist Luke Jerram was behind the memorial event

Kites were flown on the Downs near the Sea Walls

Families and friends gathered to remember lost loved ones

Jerram said: “There’s something wonderful about flying kites. It’s a way to connect the ground, to the sky.

“Most cultures around the world, have a spiritual connection to the sky. The sky often represents transcendence, infinity, eternity, location of heaven and the residence of the gods.

“For this arts project, each kite line physically and symbolically connects the participant flying the kite with the person represented on it.

“Like neural pathways, the act of holding the line can compared to the way we hold onto memories of the individuals we have lost.”

All photos: Rob Browne

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