For #Five2Watch this week we've selected five artists who have made work with health and wellbeing in mind: Gemma Wood Being-nowhere, Christopher Tipping, Emma Ainsley, Christine Wilcox-Baker and Nilplug.
The Happiness Sum, 2019
A fun interactive light art, with neon and UV acrylic. What makes you Happy? and by how much? Answer the 7 questions about your activity, (first created by philosopher Jeremy Bentham) and you will find its happiness score. Compare your answers with other peoples ideas of happiness inducing activities. Commissioned by Light Night Leeds, Light Up Lancaster and Lightwaves Salford Quays for the Shine programme.
'Flow' - RNHRD & Brownsword Therapies Centre, RUH, Bath, 2018 - 2019
I have been collaborating with Proto Studios, specialist Architectural Glass Decorators on the production of 46sqm of screen printed, sandblasted & etched architectural glass screens for the new Hydrotherapy Pool & Therapies Unit for the new RNHRD and Brownsword Therapies Centre at the RUH in Bath.The artworks were commissioned by Art at the Heart at the RUH. The project Architects are IBI Group and the building is being delivered by KIER Group.
The artwork is presented as an abstracted landscape running over both the North & the East Screens of the Pool Room – a way of encapsulating all disparate elements that have inspired my work into something engaging for the viewer, which will changes throughout the day in response to levels of daylight and direct sun.
Both the RUH & RNHRD Hospital sites were originally set in, and adjacent to open fields and expansive views of countryside. Easy to imagine then how beneficial this must have been to those patients and staff who experienced this.
It is now commonly understood that exposure to natural spaces, planting and nature within medical and healing environments is of great benefit and assists in the recovery and positive experience of patients and staff alike.
Co-creative Care Home, 2020
We delivered eight sessions in four Fife and Dundee care homes early in 2020. The focus was on working alongside both service users and staff to create art and music together. We took a laid-back improvisatory 'jamming' approach during the sessions, with minimal planning, to allow things to emerge from our working together. We wanted to create a space where we could all make things up as we went along, rather than having us come in and 'run' the sessions. Participants living with dementia were especially enthusiastic about this approach, embracing the open space and bringing heaps of playful creativity. Drawings, collages and music were made with lots of joy and laughter together.
The Fascinating Family, 2018-2021
Part of the Seven thousand feet project 'The Fascinating Family' was created to illustrate the potential health complications caused by diabetes. Some of which include eyesight problems, amputation and heart attack.
The work was carried out in collaboration with researchers at MMU and Research for the Future. Research for the Future is an NHS supported campaign that helps people find out about and take part in health and care research. Getting involved in research means you are helping to discover new ways to prevent, diagnose and manage illnesses. The Fascinating Family is now being used as a public engagement tool by Research for the Future.
Concept: Christine Wilcox-Baker; Illustrations: Fabia Fowler.
We are very grateful to The Physiological Society for their grant which enabled us to produce the Family.
Meet Ramesh, Jack and Sharon (left to right)
Ramesh has blue dots representing eyesight problems and headaches. The blue dot door knob opens the panel to reveal potential pancreas problems.
Jack has a blue door knob which when opened reveals problems with his veins not feeding down to his foot and thus putting him at risk of amputation.
Sharon has blue dots representing constant thirst and wanting to go to the loo a lot, especially at night. The blue door knob opens the panel to reveal risk of heart attack.
Ramesh, Jack and Sharon also 'talk' to you. They have motion sensors which activate their voices and they tell you about their experiences of diabetes.
These figures could be adapted to represent other medical conditions and we’d be very happy to discuss possibilities.
performance lecture presented at the opening of Solve et Coagula, Test Space, Spike Island, Bristol, UK. The work collated found imagery and vector diagrams to deliver an introduction to the history and practice of alchemy, as well as provided further insights into the objects and materials on show in the exhibition.
Nakama #10, 2017
A Nakama (...buddy in Japanese) is a slow–made anthropomorphic sculpture designed to fit in the palm of your hand. It's a pocket size object inspired by the art and way of life of the Haida people. Each one is unique and made to gift to a close buddy as a bond of brotherhood.
Solid bronze head with sterling silver ear and shakudo eye. A brass collar and beam, sterling silver cloud tail and Olivewood side panels.
Published 25 March 2022
