Merry-In-the-Making:
Anthropologie x
Hospital Rooms
We’re firm believers that the world looks its best come the festive season. Familiar spaces take on a newly magical quality: shopfronts start to sparkle, living rooms fill with the scent of pine-needles… In fact, we’d argue that decking the halls brings with it a renewed sense of warmth and joy – it’s part of what makes Christmas, Christmas.
That’s why this year, as part of our ongoing work with the mental health charity Hospital Rooms, we embarked on a mission to bring a little light to Bethlem’s Mother and Baby Unit. With Cornwall-based artist Nicola Bealing in tow, we set about transforming the ward – with handmade displays, a twinkling 7ft Christmas tree and treat-filled stockings – to brighten the surroundings for patients and staff alike.
One of the staff members working on the ward over Christmas is Jenny, an occupational therapist. She uses creative activities with the aim of positively impacting patient wellbeing.
"I’ve always valued working with the families of those dealing with mental health issues," she tells us, when asked what it was that drew her to her current position. "Gradually, I became more aware of the difficulties faced by women who’d had children. At that time (the 80s and 90s), the idea that someone with long-term mental health issues may be in a position to parent was less well received than it is now."
"People who are residents on the MBU have access to craft groups, textiles, ceramics and woodwork sessions. In fact, art is integral to life on the ward - offering a relaxed, social environment, where people often feel able to talk about their thoughts and feelings."
With this in mind, it seemed only fitting to install a piece of artwork – something beautiful and inspiring; a piece that would out-last the baubles and tree-lights – as part of the transformation. Enter Nicola: the creative mind behind the dazzling three-piece painting now hanging in the Unit’s conference room.
"I’ve always valued working with the families of those dealing with mental health issues," she tells us, when asked what it was that drew her to her current position. "Gradually, I became more aware of the difficulties faced by women who’d had children. At that time (the 80s and 90s), the idea that someone with long-term mental health issues may be in a position to parent was less well received than it is now."
"People who are residents on the MBU have access to craft groups, textiles, ceramics and woodwork sessions. In fact, art is integral to life on the ward - offering a relaxed, social environment, where people often feel able to talk about their thoughts and feelings."
With this in mind, it seemed only fitting to install a piece of artwork – something beautiful and inspiring; a piece that would out-last the baubles and tree-lights – as part of the transformation. Enter Nicola: the creative mind behind the dazzling three-piece painting now hanging in the Unit’s conference room.
"The piece for the MBU is a direct result of a Hospital Rooms workshop, which we held at the Unit earlier this year. Essentially it was a life-drawing session, but with live animals as the models," says Nicola. "The drawings got me thinking about Mediaeval bestiaries, where creatures hide or pop out from twining foliage. For this piece, the contrast of all the organic forms with the more graphic shapes of the stencilled letters seemed to work well."
"I wanted the installation to be bright, but not overwhelming. Joyous and humorous, but with an element of a visual puzzle to it." Against this magical backdrop, Jenny tells us why she’s so passionate about de-stigmatising mental illness.
"Because any of us can have mental health issues; because people who have mental health issues are entitled to as much respect and as many opportunities as anyone else!"
It’s a sentiment that sits at the very core of Hospital Rooms (and one shared by us at Anthropologie). With art comes connection, mindfulness and joy, even in the darkest times.
So, what's next for the Bethlem's MBU? "Our garden is going to be landscaped so that people on the ward have an area to relax in and benefit from being outside in a natural environment. Our smaller courtyard garden is becoming a mini-allotment too, which is very exciting!"
"I wanted the installation to be bright, but not overwhelming. Joyous and humorous, but with an element of a visual puzzle to it." Against this magical backdrop, Jenny tells us why she’s so passionate about de-stigmatising mental illness.
"Because any of us can have mental health issues; because people who have mental health issues are entitled to as much respect and as many opportunities as anyone else!"
It’s a sentiment that sits at the very core of Hospital Rooms (and one shared by us at Anthropologie). With art comes connection, mindfulness and joy, even in the darkest times.
So, what's next for the Bethlem's MBU? "Our garden is going to be landscaped so that people on the ward have an area to relax in and benefit from being outside in a natural environment. Our smaller courtyard garden is becoming a mini-allotment too, which is very exciting!"