As we all know, the buildings on the front of the Royal Sussex County Hospital are to be upgraded with new state-of-the-art clinical facilities. However, what you probably didn’t know, is that a vital part of this project has also involved the recruitment of four artists to create photography that represents ‘sense of place’, in the hope of connecting patients to the local environment, and making hospital waiting rooms a more pleasant space to be in.
“The new commissions will form part of CONNECT, the public art programme for the hospital redevelopment. CONNECT will create a distinctive identity for the hospital and a lasting legacy of accesible, high-quality public art for the city, county and community.”
Photoworks, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Willis Newson and the University of Brighton, who make up the commissioning partners, have created this project to display engaging images for the enjoyment of staff, patients and visitors. “Work which will become a source of contemplation and pleasure during potential times of stress, distress or discomfort”. Four artists have been commissioned for this project: Murray Ballard, Zoe Childerley, Helen Sear and Celine Marchbank.
The Brighton Journal spoke to Celine Marchbank, one of the four artists commissioned for this project. Her central theme is Brighton and Hove and the concept she’s working on within this is home, “the sense of place, familiarity, well-being and comfort that home brings”. Celine has worked closely with Brighton residents and has used their personal stories and direct experiences of illness and hospitals as a central theme in the work.
“Clinical research shows enhancing the hospital environment has a positive effect on reducing patient and visitor anxiety, helping the recovery process and reducing the need for pain relief medication.”
© Celine Marchbank
Why did you want to be involved in this project?
“When I was first starting out as a photographer my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I became her full-time carer and we spent many days sitting in hospital waiting rooms for long and stressful lengths of time. These rooms, no matter which clinic or ward, all had one thing in common; they were unpleasant spaces to be in. It felt as if no one had considered what it’s like as a patient or relative to spend time in these rooms, and I thought someone should. So when I saw the hospital commission being advertise it felt like a great opportunity to help make these spaces more bearable for everyone who uses them.”
How do your photographs connect patients to the local environment?
“I am photographing people’s home environments and exploring what home means to the Brighton community. The idea of my work is that it will connect patients, their families, visitors and also importantly the hospital staff, back to their own lives outside the hospital. No matter what age, ethnicity or class there are similarities and universal themes with what we call ‘home’. There are many aspects within the images that people can connect to; a hot cup of tea, the cat asleep on the bed, the washing up, their favourite place on the sofa, these are things people miss about their home. The images may trigger a personal memory or start a conversation, to help create a more comfortable and familiar environment within a clinical setting.”
How do your photographs portray a sense of belonging?
“Home brings a sense of belonging and familiarity, it’s the place we tend to feel most comfortable and at ease. By showing the tiny details of peoples lives and home spaces I hope to fill the waiting room areas with things people can connect with, to make the space feel less clinical and more human.”
© Celine Marchbank
What are the key themes in these photographs?
“Connection to place is a key theme, it’s about connecting the users to their life outside the hospital where ever and whatever that might be. It’s also about celebrating the users of the hospital and Brighton residents. I am currently working with about 15-20 different people including current and ex hospital staff, current and ex-patients, carers, hospital volunteers, and Brighton residents from a mixed background.”
What was your artistic process for this project?
“It’s important to meet and get to know the people I am working with before I think about taking any photographs. I have spent many weeks just meeting people for coffee and a chat and then letting them decide if they wish to invite me to their home, so far everyone has said yes. When working at people’s homes it can be a slow process, I may stay for quite a few hours, having a chat and wandering around photographing. Some people are happy for me to wander around myself or some prefer to show me around and discuss their place whilst we go, it’s totally up to the person I let them lead as it’s their home. I have been sharing the images I have taken with the people and back with the hospital commissioners, and the feedback has been very helpful to see what people connect and respond to.”
“For the moment I am continuing to photograph, I am revisiting some people’s homes and still meeting new people. Later the process will be more about editing down the work and deciding on what images are working best and in which specific waiting room they should go.”
© Celine Marchbank
What would you like people to notice about the pictures?
“I’d like for them to notice that someone cared about the clinical setting they are sitting it. Someone cared enough to think about what might be of interest to them and produced work that could engage, entertain and distract them from the hospital environment they find themselves in.”
“I like the excuse the camera gives you to meet new people, it’s an excuse to be nosy really, to get to know people who’s path you might never have crossed before. Last week I spent an evening at a music group for recovering alcoholics and yesterday I had tea with a 98-year-old woman at her home, that is the beauty of it.”
What have you learned about the people of Brighton since beginning this project?
“That they are very friendly and welcoming! The response to the project has been amazing and I’ve been so touched by the support and kindness of everyone. Many people have cooked me lunch, made me many cups of tea and biscuits, driven me places, opened up to discuss personal things, and just genuinely been very warm and welcoming to a complete stranger. I’m really enjoying this project and don’t want it to end.”
© Celine Marchbank
If you are a Brighton resident or connected with the hospital and might wish to be part of the project please contact Celine for more information on celine@celinemarchbank.com.
In a joint statement the partnership organisations BSUH, Photoworks, Willis Newson and the University of Brighton said last year:
“These commissions will play an important role within this world-class health facility. They will help provide a positive environment that will complement the exceptional medical care patients can expect. The commissions will help to maximise patient recovery and significantly improve the waiting experience for patients, staff, visitors and carers for many years to come. They offer an exciting opportunity for photographers to connect not only with the large numbers of people within the hospital, but also with diverse communities across Sussex. This is an investment that will genuinely improve the care environment for everyone and help foster a sense of pride in the hospital’
For more information about Connect, please click here.
For more information about Photoworks, please click here.
