Project Commissioned by NHS Lothian Charity’s Tonic Arts programme for The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Edinburgh, Scotland. 2016-2022
One of the main objectives for this commission was the engagement with the psychiatric patients through various art therapy courses and for these interactions to inform the development and outcome of art piece.
During the workshops, it was important for me to share a bit of time with each of the participants and ask them what they would like the piece to represent. Many mentioned that key words like: joy, love, nature, embrace, hope and vibrant colours. I wanted it to embody the importance of this human interaction and also how during the workshops we shared many cups of tea.
These simple exchanges highlighted the importance of being heard, supported and embraced. By fostering this community engagement through art, the piece will embody and highlight the beauty of our common humanity.
The commission is focused on transforming found glass collected from the community / blown pieces using cutting techniques to embellish the different components. But more so, with this piece I wanted to invite the audience to see the magic that happens throughout the whole creative process from idea conception, to the why behind the mark-making on the glass, to the final objects materialised; highlighting that the richness lies in the process and documenting this poetic side of the when the sunshine meets the glass coming to life, casting really beautiful shadows. For me, this in my challenge- to reinterpret this authentic moment, with mistakes and all and invite the viewer to be a part of it.
I wanted to use this opportunity not just to create a beautiful physical installation at the lobby of this hospital in Edinburgh. But most importantly, I wanted to push myself to continue to develop this visual language and how to tell the story of the project connecting to the why behind the making and get a glimpse into this joyful world. In the end, all of the elements will allow to push the different visual representations to transcend to a much broader audience.
Why make a film?
The film that invites the viewer to be immersed into this imaginary world where everything is possible. But most importantly, I wanted to emphasise that we are on an ever changing journey that’s powered by trials and errors, vulnerability, and imperfection. The film is a testimony to the beginning, the end, and everything in between this non-linear exploration.
I believe that the concept of ‘perfection’ cannot coexist when we are talking about creativity. It’s too much of a daunting concept that ends up hindering the potential and authenticity of the work. I love this brilliant quote from Edmund de Waal’s book The Hare with Amber Eyes. ‘Be careful, he would say, of the unwarranted gesture: less is more…’ For me this quote not only applies to when developing my work, but also when tackling any aspect of life.