The Story Behind The 'Shooga Bloom People'

Painted by Artist and Lead Vocalist of Shooga Bloom - LYDIA MARTIN

How it Began

The 'Shooga Bloom People' project began last year over the first UK lockdown by Lydia Martin. With COVID restrictions meaning we couldn't all meet up as a band and gig/write/play together, all our plans were put on hold making all of us feel isolated. So Lydia came up with an art project that would encapsulate, uplift and celebrate! Inspired and driven by many different areas such as: the need for work and having something within Lydia's control, to connect with people, to show everyone themselves through someone else's eyes and the Series 'POSE'.

THE GOAL & CONCEPT

It will be a collection of 50 A2 Portraits that celebrates individuality within community. Each painting (apart from the first 'WOMAN' seen above) is painted directly from an image sent to Lydia of someone feeling empowered, confident and content in themselves and their body, whether that be clothes, naked or in underwear draped in materials, whatever they feel most comfortable with. We are aiming to hang all the portraits together on a gallery wall once complete, to form this vibrant diverse community of 'Shooga Bloom People' that will in some way be an illustration of us all being apart due to COVID-19 and then coming back together.

Lydia wanted this to show people that they should celebrate themselves and their bodies without shame and hopefully this project has allowed people to enjoy taking images of themselves and think 'DAMN I LOOK AMAZING!'. Which we all needed in this strange time where all we can see is filtered content that abides to unrealistic beauty standards.

We wanted our audience to be involved in our merchandise, so all the Portraits are going to be sold as Prints which we have started to sell on our SHOP. As a band we want to capture all the individual people and wider network that inspire the music we create! The collaborations, conversations, simple interactions, support networks, stories, looks, hugs, and so much more that finds its way into lyrical and melodic content. The money collated by the band merchandise goes to funding the continuation of the portraits, the creation of our MUSIC and our current EP which is in the making!

Also the first to collect all 50 wins a prize that's yet to be decided so keep an EYE out!

How it's going so far!

Lydia is currently on painting 20/50 and we hope to reach 25 by the end of May when we are planning on holding a 'half-way' exhibition event in Bath, so go follow our SOCIALS to keep up to date on when and where it will be taking place.

We have 46 people involved so far and are needing 4 more people (preferably who identifies as Male), to get involved, so get in touch in the comments, via Email or DM us on Instagram if you are interested in being painted.

So far there are 4 Prints available to purchase on our website and 2 Available to Pre-Order, but soon we will have more making their way onto the shop which will be announced on our socials. Each order comes with a FREE Vinyl Shooga Bloom Logo sticker and any order over £20 qualifies for FREE delivery!

Take care and lots of love,

Shooga Bloom xx