New art unveiled at Addenbrooke's

Specially-commissioned new works of art have gone on display at Addenbrooke's – and they will be officially launched at an event on Tuesday 3 June.

 

The first is a huge, constantly-changing sculpture that hangs from the ceiling of the Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre. Created by Ivan Black, the work – called 'Asklepian' – was inspired by the ancient symbol of medicine, the Staff of Asclepius. The coloured wheels that surround its central column slowly twist themselves into a seven-metre long spiral and then unwind, mimicking the movement of a snake twining itself around a staff.

 

Along the corridor that joins the Rosie to the main hospital, a row of windows that used to overlook a dark courtyard filled with machinery and pipes has been replaced with three unique light sculptures. Artists Rob and Nick Carter worked with photosensitive paper to create the one-off works, which are lit with neon tubes that scroll through the full spectrum of colour to create a hypnotic, ever-changing effect.

 

Opposite the light sculptures, a new history display charts the development of the hospital and of medicine in Cambridge. The panels were produced by local graphic designer Nick Welsh, in association with the Addenbrooke's archivist and the Medical Research Council archives team.

 

The new artwork also includes four paintings by local artist Nicholas James Juett showing street scenes in Cambridge. His work looks at the city in an unconventional way, capturing ordinary streets rather than famous tourist locations.

 

Damian Hebron, the hospital's Arts Co-ordinator, said: “We want to use art to provide creative distractions for patients and visitors. Recent research has shown that art helps patients to relax in hospital. It reduces stress, boosts confidence, and adds to peoples' sense of wellbeing.

 

“No NHS money has been spent on these works. They have been paid for by Addenbrooke's Arts, the hospital's arts project, which is funded entirely through charitable donations." The new artwork will be unveiled at 1730 on Tuesday 3 June by the Chairman of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Mary Archer.