The hospital CHU in Liege at first glance might not impress. After all, it’s not a beautiful place, looking from most angles more like a war-time garrison, abandonned after the troops went home~ a lot of concrete and not much else.
But the camera has a keen eye~ especially adept at routing out the less visibly apparent but most beautiful parts of things.
Bathers, by Picasso
The paintings on the walls of the reception area, for example. There are two large frames behind each of the many receptionist’s desks, largely ignored but there. That was a surprise, and if you happen to be waiting in line like most everyone else, you would have plenty of time to notice them, even to walk around and take some pictures so you could look them up when you got home. A lot of Gauguin and Matisse…a few of Picasso and Van Gogh…all absolutely joyous with their riotous colors. How could those secretaries not notice?
Interieur, by Matisse
The Plain at Auvers, Vincent Van Gogh, c1890
The Siesta, Paul Gauguin
Then there are the color coded signs to help patients navigate the maze of corridors~ creative and picture-worthy, at least to this camera’s eye. Inside the huge entrance way, the vaulted glass roof and natural lighting filtering down from high above changes the atmosphere entirely and makes for an airy, light-hearted and fresh feeling as you enter….there is hope for healing after all!
CHU~ the inner courtyard
Then there are the people….the most amazing art-works of all.
At the reimbursement office…
At the Registration desk…
In the lobby waiting for her mom….
ART~ It’s a part of our life. We can find it Anywhere. Even inside a hospital where many are struggling to remember that life goes on at all. ART~ it’s a reminder that there is more than just the physical body that needs attention.
Our spirits and our aesthetic senses need attention as well. Beauty in the environment impacts the way we handle illness, or any other challenge of life, reminding us of something deep within that keeps on glowing long after the secretaries have gone home for the night.
Art This Way!
TEA TALKS with ROBIN 