Functional artworks for therapeutic environments

Art can play a tangible role in how comfortable we feel in a room. In therapeutic environments where sensitivities are heightened, maximising the sense of comfort within a space should be a high priority. Studies have shown that outcomes of treatment directly correlate with our baseline response to the environment we are in. Obviously, the way people are dealt with and the healthcare they receive is paramount, but part of the next tier of tools hinges around how the space feels to inhabit. 

Part of the job of artwork is to expand the confines of the room into other environments. A particularly common aspect of any health treatment is waiting. For those of us not wanting to, or unable to pull out our phones or magazines, the art on the walls can become a refuge to muse within. Artworks can function as a personal portal, bypassing the intellect and evoking a visceral reaction. Art may be one of the few tools capable of distracting us from our situation.

To my assessment, the most suitable art in therapeutic spaces is inviting, and uplifting and can engage the broadest number of people. Firstly, the subject matter must be universally acceptable. It must be inoffensive but definitely not bland. Any piece singled out to be put on the wall needs to have “wow factor”, it should be dynamic but not overwhelming. The work must have the potential to connect with us on an emotional level to be able to hold our attention. Natural beauty is appealing, so images in these environments should be beautiful. The fewer elements in the work, the easier it is to live with over the long term.

My largest commissions to date have been for hospitals. For me, abstract macro art photography ticks all of the boxes for functional art for therapeutic spaces. On a philosophical level, the majesty and wonder of the natural world are both humbling and grounding as the beauty of plants and flowers seems to tap into our humanity on a primal level. Unlike literal nature images and landscapes, abstraction is an invitation for personal interpretations. I feel this elevates them beyond being just a pretty picture. 

I see my artwork as an interpersonal offering. It’s a chance for me to share my favourite amalgams of light, colour and structure with other people. The images are vital, with strong colour and beautiful light. They work as curated nature portals and can be strategically placed in therapeutic environments. There is nothing to hinge them to a point in time or fashion so I feel these images will always look contemporary.  

My artworks are made through sensitive observation and discovery. It’s a process where I find real joy. I’m completely content to put in the time required to develop a body of images. I am deeply gratified by the challenge and problem-solving required to make stronger images than I have made before. There is a high level of spontaneity and subsequent excitement when a powerful image is uncovered. I believe that the inherent immediacy in the process is somehow evident in the final image. The images feel open and inviting as I’m sharing these unexpected discoveries, more or less as I first saw them through the lens.