These artworks were made by engaging with people in the hospital. I wanted to find out what helps us feel better – lifts our spirits – distracts our thoughts – captures us – endears us – gives us space – lets in the light? To create a metaphorical window to help us be outside our emotional space, allowing us to shift for a moment, to give us an opportunity to look into somewhere new, somewhere different, a meditative space, a calmness, allowing us to breath, to take in a new sense.
As a patient, member of staff, visitor or even a contractor…being in the hospital environment impacts on our emotions. Maybe we are there to work, be cared for, operated on, produce life or loose life or keep the machines working to keep life going. There is always a lot of love and compassion, but dealing with trauma, pain, fear, anxiety and loss – we can easily loose sight of this.
Using a Mind Map as a starting point for conversation and a specially designed postcards I recorded responses for each specific area. I spent time with people who use those spaces to establish a relationship, an understanding of the space and who uses it, how often and why. I asked people to take me to a place that fills you with happiness – what do you see? Describe the colours, the time of day, the landscape, the moment…
Their responses informed large vinyl colour-scapes of land, sea, natural spaces and happy places, decorative, easy on the eye, panels of colour that trigger our feel good emotions , images and pattern, shaped by our shared conversations
