Art by Post: Mary & Simmi’s story

Born in Uganda, Mary and her daughter Simmi were relocated to Glasgow from London five years ago. Even before Covid-19 hit Mary was always looking for ways to channel Simmi’s creative interests.

Through lockdown they discovered the Glasgow arts centre Platform and the Southbank Centre’s Art by Post project. This is Mary’s story of how this kept her and her daughter going through a potentially isolating lockdown, as told to Mina Holland.

Mary & Simmi, Glasgow

Art by Post participants

‘Even though Simmi wasn’t meeting anybody in person, she felt part of a big family of artists… It kept up a strong sense of the local community in spite of our isolation’

‘We live very near to Platform in Baillieston but didn’t know about the centre before the lockdown. Having come to the UK from Uganda, the Home Office moved us to Glasgow five years ago; I was worried about leaving London but learnt quickly that it’s better to raise a family here. The cost of living is lower and the people have been so welcoming to us. Once I got used to the Glaswegian accent, it got easier!

‘Self-isolating with my children was very hard and very hectic. I am a single mother to Simmi, her four year old brother, and a baby boy who I gave birth to during the first lockdown. One of the assignments Platform set was to send in a picture of yourself and your family; Simmi portrayed herself as Mother Mary with her little brother as Joseph and their new brother as Jesus. These things kept me going.

‘Self-isolating with my children was very hard and very hectic. I am a single mother to Simmi, her four year old brother, and a baby boy who I gave birth to during the first lockdown. Simmi’s artwork often kept me going’

‘Simmi’s artwork is very varied in style, but always playful, full of energy and excitement. Matt at Platform noticed that butterflies and nature are favourite motifs in her work. In the photo here, for example, she’s holding up a picture of a purple dinosaur next to a lake and a flower. Often Art by Post’s provocations encouraged people to look at their natural surroundings – like trees and creepy crawlies – and she loved responding to these directly, but at other times she just enjoyed creating whatever she felt like.

‘It was so good to find something that channelled her imagination in those difficult months, and now to have a resource in Platform that we’ll keep using. I am hoping Simmi will join their in-person drama workshops. It is wonderful to have found an outlet for her within our local community – she loves it, and I love it too’.