The Alfred Hospital, IPU, 2023
Over the course of 3 months I worked as an Artist in Residence at The Alfred Hospital Psychiatric ward - an acute mental health facility. In this role I spent time immersed in the IPU, connecting with mental health care consumers, allied health team, peer workers and clinicians. I allowed my observations to influence and guide my art and worked directly with consumers to create artworks that de-stigmatise and illuminate mental health.
During my time in the IPU I used the flannel flower as a subject and focus for art play and experimentation. Flannel flowers are a Australian native bush flower that has been chosen by the Mental Health Council of Australia as its emblem due to its ability to adapt to new and different circumstances. Shaped like a bright star the flannel flower is the first flower to bloom after the ice melts. It survive's the harsh landscape and extremes in weather of the Australian bush including droughts, bushfires and floods - growing wild thanks to its strength, endurance and resilience. The flannel flower goes through struggle and tough conditions reflective of people who have experienced trying times and who live bravely with mental health issues. I used flannels in my artworks en masse as a motif of how common mental illness is and to demonstrate that sufferers aren’t alone.
Additionally I chose to explore paper tapestry weavings during the residency. The weft and warp of the weavings depict the ebb and flow in the ever-changing landscape of mental well-being. The artworks are representative of resilience and strength within this non-linear journey. I used weaving as a visual narrative to express renewal, regeneration and ultimately becoming stronger. Like patchwork where individual stories come together to make a whole the tapestries represent the notion of us as humans being layered, nuanced, complex and multifaceted - not to be simply defined by conditions and diagnosis. In the creation of the weavings there was a freedom in making art that would ultimately be ripped apart, playing on the impermanence of all states and the joy of expression without being precious about the end result. There is difficulty in the reconstruction as there is also labour and time required in healing. When the paper is weaved back together the tapestries takes on a new notion, life and story. There is light, dark, hope, joy and beauty in the unexpected results referencing the shared humanity, vulnerability and connections between consumers, peer workers and health care providers.
As well as working directly with consumers I created a mural in the high dependency unit courtyard. Before beginning the mural, a quote from one of my favourite books sat with me – the feeling of being a small tree in a hurricane. Feeling out of control within oneself. I wanted the mural to utilise and play on the calming benefits of nature to aid in anchoring the body and mind through peacefulness, tranquillity and serenity. My intention was to not fill every wall within the courtyard and instead add botanical elements harmoniously with breathing space between. I played on enlarging flowers, dragonflies and foliage to exaggerate the feel of being part of, engaged with and held by nature in a cocoon like sense.
Another mural I created was in the gender sensitive ward at the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. Recognising the importance of fostering a sense of tranquility and positivity within the space, I embarked on creating a mural that served as a source of comfort for those in the ward. I painted to Tulips to represent growth and renewal.
I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity and relished the time connecting and creating with consumers and staff and to explore my experience and findings through art.