An exhibition of work by patients and carers, ‘Portraying Life’, is currently on display at the hospice. The exhibition runs alongside a new Eduard Manet exhibition at the Royal Academy, also titled ‘Portraying Life’.
The exhibition is part of an annual project, run by the hospice and the Royal Academy of Arts to coincide with the Academy’s spring exhibition. The project provides an opportunity for people affected by long-term illness, old age, death, dying and bereavement to explore their own self-portraits from a range of different perspectives.
Being seen
Patients, carers and others taking part in the project used various artistic mediums including photography, quilt making, painting, drawing, creative writing and music making to show how they would like to be seen.
As well as reflecting on their lives generally, many patients wanted to create something that represented their life now, challenging the fact that illness and disability (and those with these conditions) often go unnoticed. For example, artists made sure to include their walking aids as part of their self portraits, and for one of the group’s paintings a frame was made from medical paraphernalia, sprayed gold to look like the ornate frames of the Manet paintings (see photo above).
The project enabled people to be seen and understood. It also allowed people to leave a lasting legacy, and feel a sense of pride and inclusion.
Val, a patient at the hospice, said: “This was an inspirational project for me, and I have achieved something that I had never felt I could do. It’s been good for my sense of wellbeing and boosted my confidence and self-respect, and makes me feel worthwhile. I didn’t realise that art galleries were so accessible and had always assumed that they were for clever arty people, and not for the everyday working class person. The discussion helped other people to have an understanding of our situations and of what can be achieved even in your last days, weeks or years of life.”
Sheila, also a hospice patient, added: “I feel I have achieved something to be proud of, and I have enjoyed hearing praise for the work from others as it makes me feel noticed. I also like the fact that the artwork will be around for a long time. It’s done a lot for me personally too… I used to feel quite fragile and tearful, but now I feel like I’m back to myself and feeling stronger, and I’ve found my fight in me. Being with others helps as it makes me feel like I’m not alone.”
Gini Lawson, art therapist at St Christopher’s, said: “The arts help us to make sense of things, and are especially helpful when so many changes are happening, and when it’s hard to put feelings into words. Working on creative projects can really bring people together, and bring out new qualities in one another, which can be hugely liberating. The arts can help us to be seen and understood, which can make a real difference to quality of life, and death. What is created is a lasting legacy and a way for us to be remembered and celebrated.”
Changing attitudes
The project is part of St Christopher’s social programme, which was launched two years ago to help promote healthy attitudes to death and dying among the local community.
The hospice holds a number of regular events and activities which are open to anyone, whether they have a direct connection to the hospice or not. Patients, carers, bereaved people and others from the local community come to the Anniversary Centre at the hospice in the evenings to take part in pottery, painting and quiltmaking. There is also a community choir and band which meet each Monday, a monthly concert series featuring professional musicians from around the world and regular Sunday lunches accompanied by live music.
Attendance at these events is about a 50:50 split between people who have some connection with the hospice and those who do not.
A launch event for the ‘Portraying Life’ exhibition at the hospice was attended by 300 people – one of the largest events ever held by the hospice. The exhibition will be available for the next couple of months and can be viewed at the hospice between 8am and 9pm.
The collaboration was also marked by an evening event held at the Royal Academy in February, during which the artwork created by patients and their families was exhibited, and a panel discussion was held on the place of the arts when dealing with serious illness, older age, or death, dying and bereavement. A podcast of the discussion, involving Nigel Hartley, St Christopher’s director of supportive care, fashion designer Fanny Karst and 83-year-old supermodel Daphne Selfe, is available to download on the Royal Academy website.
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