Happy All Your Life 2017
Date: 2017
Dimensions: 11 m
Materials: Porcelain prints
Techniques: Printed/illustrated and textured individual ceramic shapes
Commissioned by: Western Health and Social Care Trust – Arts Committee
Location: New Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex
Architects: Todd Architects
Description: Individual ceramic shapes form aspects of a garden – cultivated flowers, birds, insects, wildflowers and a view through a garden gate.These shapes flow upwards along the stairwell and create a movement through the hospital space.
Concept:
Inspired by the Proverb
“If you would be happy for a week take a wife, if you would be happy for a month kill a pig, but if you would be happy all your life plant a garden”
This piece takes the form of flowers, birds, leaves and insects that create a movement across the space by the way they are placed, reflecting the flow of people throughout the hospital.
The concept reflects the therapeutic and healing effects that gardening and nature has on our physical and mental wellbeing as well as providing a little humour for anyone who can find the words written into the leaves.
Community workshops were set up with Killyclogher Senior Citizens Club and six local primary schools which resulted in a number of artworks inspired by nature were placed in niches along the hospital corridor. Workshops with students from Drumragh Integrated College resulted in a ceramic piece based on DNA strands and images with words inspired by Seamus Heaney poetry.
Workshops with community groups, seniors, primary and secondary schools resulted in a series of artworks. Circular pieces in glass and ceramic were placed in the alcoves on the hospital corridors from senior groups, framed pieces in wards from primary school print making onto clay sessions and a large ceramic piece based on DNA from Drumragh Integrated School.
Senior Groups – ceramic and glass workshops
Primary school print onto clay based on local animals and birds
Drumragh Integrated School- Artwork based on DNA
