We’ve launched an illustrator series to help #TakeThePressureOff dating during isolation.
People across the globe are embarking on long stints of isolation - IRL interactions with people and the social behaviours we have been accustomed to have been put on pause (for how long, who knows?).
With this current climate, the entire landscape of dating and connection has completely changed, and we are all in a period of unknown and unchartered territory.
We’re collaborating with artists to help communicate, illustrate, and tap into self-care, mental health and wellbeing around the ‘new normal’ of dating in isolation.
Today, we talk to Bobbi Rae, an illustrator and multidisciplinary artist, about video calls, living with a partner during quarantine, and being real with each other.
Badoo Talks Video Calls With Artist Bobbi Rae
Tell us a bit about yourself
Well hellooo, I’m Bobbi. I make bold, cartoonish, often facetious work which has a strong feminist slant.
I draw, I paint murals, and at the moment, I’m working on a mix of 2d and 3d stuff for my upcoming exhibition, TAKING UP SPACE. The project has seen a few delays due to the current climate, but I’m working with the gallery to get it out there as soon as is safely possible.
Describe your artwork for #TakeThePressureOff - why you chose this topic, how it relates to you personally, and why you think it’s important right now
Video calls have been a big adaptation for me. I really wasn’t comfortable with them before all of this, but then they became kind of essential.
Being able to see someone ‘face to face’ has really helped to ground me through all of this. They’ve been a total lifeline, since initially, I was feeling really, really anxious about - well, everything.
Once I started dipping my toes into the alternate universe where you have to look at your own face every time you take a call, I started to realise that the biggest reason I had avoided it was because of all the pressure to present yourself in flattering lighting, get the right angle, and MY GOD never reveal your under-chin.
Since lockdown day #1, I’ve seen countless articles about using make-up to create the ‘perfect video call look’ and ‘the art of dressing on the top half’. By all means, if people wanna feel good - and doing these things ‘does it’ for them, then go wild!
But I’m not too keen on the normalisation of having to present yourself like a panto character everytime you take a video call. Everyone’s at home, everyone’s in their joggers. I think it’s a great opportunity to be real with one another - and learn to embrace that chin angle!
What are your top isolation tips?
I’ve been keeping myself really busy. I don’t know how healthy it is but I certainly haven’t found myself bored yet.
I’m lucky enough to still have bits of work going on, but I’m also surrounded by books that I haven’t read, a hallway that needs painting and an unruly garden that deserves a bit of love.
There’s a never-ending list of things that I, and probably anyone reading this COULD do. Finding the motivation is a little harder. I’ve been taking walks and regular calls with the outside world to try and help with that.
How are you and your partner navigating being together in isolation?
I live with my partner of seven years so we’re used to being in each other’s space - but not this much.
We share a small studio space at the top of our house, he makes electronic music and I make my work in the same room. It can be testing at times but we usually find a way to make it work - with a timeshare agreement, or headphones - more often than not.
During isolation we’ve had to respect each other’s space and need for separate time a bit more than usual. But in the long run I think that’s something that will serve us both well to learn.
Overall, we’re getting on really well. Neither of us want to argue during this time, being locked up and in a big row? That’s far from ideal. And we have a lot of empathy for each other because we’re in the same boat, after all.
So whilst I might say that our tolerance for each other’s awful singing and dirty laundry might have challenged us at times, I think we are becoming more tolerant and patient people because of it.
What’s the first thing you’re going to do once out of isolation?
See my friends and my family. Cheesy but true.
I’ll have a lot of mural work to catch up on and I’m super excited to get things going with my exhibition but there’s nothing I am more desperate to do than to go see my family and hang out with my friends!
Where can we see more from you?
If you wanna hear more about my exhibition, or find out how you can get involved, I’ve got a crowdfunder on the go at the moment and there’s heaps of information on there.
You can find all the links in my instagram bio - @bearcubs. Or if you’re more of a twitter kinda person, I’m @bobbiraecouk. And if you want to visit my shop, it’s bobbirae.co.uk.
I’ll be back at art markets when I can, out painting murals in Leeds City Centre and preparing for TAKING UP SPACE at The Gallery at 164 in Leeds.
But in the meantime, you can keep an eye peeled for the online workshops that I’m rustling up (as we speak), check out Book Block’s #positivepost campaign, or anytime, drop me a line using the contact page on my website.
A big thank you to Bobbi for the great work, and for taking the time to answer our questions.
Badoo will be rolling out more posts like this to help #TakeThePressureOff over the next few weeks, so follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more.
