• Ceramic artist Viktorija Osipova created a visual diary of her time in quarantine by starting a 'doodle wall'. All images courtesy of Viktorija Osipova
    Ceramic artist Viktorija Osipova created a visual diary of her time in quarantine by starting a 'doodle wall'. All images courtesy of Viktorija Osipova
  • Through small illustrations, Osipova recorded memories and events, big and small – recipes, Netflix binges, online orders and trips to the grocery
    Through small illustrations, Osipova recorded memories and events, big and small – recipes, Netflix binges, online orders and trips to the grocery
  • In the first four to five weeks of lockdown, Osipova developed a routine where she would take notes during the day and paint them in the evening
    In the first four to five weeks of lockdown, Osipova developed a routine where she would take notes during the day and paint them in the evening
  • Her final drawing was the coronavirus, which served "a reminder of the terrible icon that has caused such destruction, and that we have sadly become so used to seeing as a backdrop to our lives"
    Her final drawing was the coronavirus, which served "a reminder of the terrible icon that has caused such destruction, and that we have sadly become so used to seeing as a backdrop to our lives"
  • “I hope the project has inspired others to view the walls of their homes differently – as an opportunity to escape, express themselves, and share their creativity with others,” says the artist
    “I hope the project has inspired others to view the walls of their homes differently – as an opportunity to escape, express themselves, and share their creativity with others,” says the artist
  • One of the Osipova's plant pots, where she recreates Magritte's 'The Son of Man'
    One of the Osipova's plant pots, where she recreates Magritte's 'The Son of Man'
  • Osipova is primarily a ceramic artist, creating small sculptures and designing plant pots that she sells online or at craft fairs
    Osipova is primarily a ceramic artist, creating small sculptures and designing plant pots that she sells online or at craft fairs
  • Currently, the 32-year-old is busy working on new creations, including ceramics and prints for wall designs
    Currently, the 32-year-old is busy working on new creations, including ceramics and prints for wall designs

Artist spent her 113 days in lockdown creating a 'doodle wall'


Alexandra Chaves
  • English
  • Arabic

On March 25, as the UK entered into lockdown, Viktorija Osipova looked at a blank wall in her apartment and had an idea.

Through small doodles, she would create a visual diary of her time spent isolating. And, 113 days later, the ceramic artist's wall became a collage of illustrations chronicling details, memories and events, big and small – these include recipes, Netflix binges, birthdays, online orders and trips to the supermarket.

"I have always wanted to do a painting on my living room wall. As it looked so bare and I hadn't done much painting on canvas for a while, it all suddenly made sense to use the wall as my creative surface," she says.

The artist is one of many people to have taken on creative endeavours indoors since the pandemic started.

Osipova moved to the UK from Lithuania 13 years ago. She studied fine art in London and currently works as an art and display technician at a secondary school, where she learnt how to work with ceramics.

The first day of her doodle wall project, she recalls, was exciting. “I kept on adding little things I did on that day, such as the meals I cooked, the films we watched and other events that may not have been exciting at the time, but that were a part of my daily life for those 113 days.”

In the first four to five weeks of lockdown, Osipova developed a routine where she would take notes during the day and paint them in the evening. As the weeks went by, she would paint in the mornings or paint details from missed days in one go.

Artist Viktorija Osipova spent 113 days doodling on her apartment wall. Courtesy Viktorija Osipova
Artist Viktorija Osipova spent 113 days doodling on her apartment wall. Courtesy Viktorija Osipova

One memorable week documented in her doodles is the time she spent with her colleagues making protective face visors. Using laser cut tools, they constructed more than 1,000 face shields, which they donated and distributed to local hospitals and care homes.

“It felt great leaving the house to see some familiar faces at work, and the process of making the visors and seeing them received by frontline workers in need was amazing,” she says.

In her drawings, even the mundane can seem momentous. Once, she woke up in the middle of night after smelling smoke, which turned out to be a minor incident just outside her apartment. The next morning, she painted the blue lights of the fire trucks.

She has also marked national holidays in the UK, Lithanuia and the US, commemorated friends’ birthdays, and even marked her first takeaway meal on the wall.

Most of Osipova’s work is with ceramics, designing plant pots and creating sculptural pieces. During the period of country-wide quarantine, she found time to experiment with new materials and designs.

Reflecting on her time in lockdown, she says it gave her the opportunity to make more art. “I had all this time to myself to be as creative as I possibly could.”

"This project has not only helped me to keep myself busy during this period, it has also kept me focused," she says, adding that sharing daily pictures on her Instagram page and discussing her progress with friends and colleagues motivated her to keep going.

“I hope the project has inspired others to view the walls of their homes differently – as an opportunity to escape, express themselves, and share their creativity with others,” she adds.

On the 113th day, there was only room on her wall for one small doodle. And what did she decide to draw? The spiky figure at the centre of this pandemic. “There was just space to add a small coronavirus illustration, in the far bottom corner of the wall, as a reminder of the terrible icon that has caused such destruction, and that we have sadly become so used to seeing as a backdrop to our lives,” she says.

Now, Osipova is back to focusing on her ceramic art, which she sells online and at craft markets. While it may take time before craft fairs take place again, the 32-year-old artist is busy working on new creations and has even now received requests for wall design prints.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

 

 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

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Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
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T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings 
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Group A

Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA

Group B

Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti

Group C

Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia

Group D

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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.