Artist digitally creates books on a shelf to reveal a hidden coronavirus message 

As the nation continues to control the spread of the coronavirus, one artist has decided to narrate the story of self-isolation amid the pandemic.

Digital-printmaker Phil Shaw, who was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, used the power of digital manipulation to entertain fans with a short story of the nation’s fight against Covid-19.

Taking to social media to share his project with the nation, the artist, who was able to create a distinctive ‘bookshelf’ appearance, wrote: ‘Shelf isolation 2 – the story so far…’ 

The manipulated image made to resemble an authentic bookshelf displayed a range of books from Stephen King’s It to Adam Thorpe’s Still and revealed a hidden message about the rise and hopeful fall of coronavirus.

The message read: ‘The English patient had caught it on the beach. I should have stayed at home she said. Now she was in quarantine in the dark house of splendid isolation.

‘Still hope springs eternal with a little bit of luck and personal hygiene. The corona book of horror stories must end soon. Always remember clean hands save lives and when in doubt don’t go out!’ 

Following the post, social media users took to Instagram to share their praise of the artist’s ‘real-life’ bookshelf and his message. 

One user wrote: ‘I love this madly! This could be my new quarantine obsession.’

While another added: ‘Epic epics epic sentence!”

Another person commented: ‘This is genius- thank you.’

The artist later thanked fans for their comments and wrote: ‘Thanks everyone, really appreciate your comments. Stay safe. Phil.’

This is not the first time the digital artist has taken to social media to share his creations.

Earlier this month Mr Shaw shared images of books he had digitally rearranged to ‘pass the time’ while in lockdown, from a series of ‘teach yourself’ books to the works of acclaimed authors such as Thomas Hardy and Virginia Woolf whose novels appeared to be ‘social distancing’.

On his website the author writes: ‘I’ve always been fascinated by the possibility of creating the impossible. In life we all know deep down that magic just ain’t possible, but at the same time we all wish that just once something magical might happen. 

‘Just beyond the surface of a picture, the membrane that separates reality from fiction, we are able to experience the impossible. My world, the world beyond the picture plain, abounds with strange coincidences, contradictions and paradoxes; it’s where I live.

‘My world is a place where humour is a serious matter, and it’s purpose is not simply to raise a laugh but to call attention to the puzzling absurdities and the dangerous myths, that permeate all our lives.’