The Evolution of Visual Art in Hospitals

By Rudrani Ghosh

While hospitals are moving in to a space where they are continuously focussing on growing and expanding, there is a thought behind redesigning the healing space with the beautification of art.

Most of the people associate hospital aesthetics as white long hallways with clanging sounds and smell of disinfectants. But today architects and hospital experts started viewing health holistically and believing that art plays a huge impact in the overall healing process of the patient. A study conducted in Denmark reveals that the hanging paintings especially the abstract ones in the patient waiting rooms has a direct co-relation with the patient’s satisfaction.

How Art found its way in Hospital space

Integrating art in healthcare space traces back to antiquity as to ‘when the first hospitals grew out of hotels run by the church’ for the old and the sick. In the middle ages, art has played such an important role in the healing process that while ‘the name of the builder has often been lost but the name of the artist has been usually handed down’ to our time. The beautifully-decorated former and current Spanish medical buildings are among a group that stands in sharp contrast to the kinds of visual imagery typically associated with the modern hospital aesthetics.

There has been varied number of studies which shows that a cheerful disposition can have beneficial effects on the mind of the patient. For instance, according to Harvard Medical School, a positive outlook on life provides an appealing call through the tough patches of anyone’s life. A 2007 British paper explored the art’s positive effects not only on patient well being but also on health outcome ‘such as length of stay in hospital and pain tolerance’. These are some of the reasons – how art found its way in the healthcare space – the vivid landscapes, the seascapes, animals and flowers.

In his article which was published in International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health and Well-being, Michael Mullins writes, “art can reduce the experience of pain through distracting the patient’s attention.”

Health and the Art of Healing

The early European medical buildings were contemplated as sacred places like churches. For example, Seville’s Hospital de la Caridad, an active hospital which dates back to the late 17th century, overflows with artistic masterpieces. It was in the 19th century that the hospitals were identified as the carriers of diseases.

The influence of Florence Nightingale led to the redesigning of hospital wards in two long rows and large windows. The pavilion wards were coloured white so that whiteness becomes the direct indicator of showing the dirt. Not only there were no projection on the wall, but no cracks in order to avoid anything that can cause the air to get dirty.

There were certain relaxations of whiteness of the hospital architecture by the early 20th century so that the patients can heal in the decorated rooms. Among these, mention may be made of Cleveland Clinic which took the risk of following the art tradition from its inception in 1920.

In an interview, Joanne Cohen, the executive and curator of Cleveland, said, “We set out to try and change the paradigm of what it’s like to be in a healthcare setting— that in some way, it might be inviting and enriching when you come to the hospital for whatever reason, whether you’re working there, a visitor, or a patient,” she continues, “We think that fine art is good medicine. If it’s high-quality, it’s going to hopefully withstand the test of time and afford people an opportunity to see things and experience things they might not otherwise get to do.”

The architectural design of the hospital setting in the 21st century is to make the hospital experience of a patient turned to an art experience with eclectic nature of collection when they are least expecting it. There has been a brainwave research done that shows that looking at art activates the same parts of the brain as does the sense of touch, which is the basis of all healing and caring. However, it should be kept in mind that hospital set-up is a place where one can’t always anticipate how people will respond to artwork on the walls. Even an innocuous thing can trigger some patients and their families.

Healing Architecture

The current trend of designing state of art hospital focuses not only having an aura of space that can reduce stress and anxiety of the patient but can promote the healing mechanism that can instil emotion and change a person’s mood and perception.

Charles Jencks used the philosophy of placebo affect and modified the architectural placebo effect environment through his designs in a manner that helped in treating many cancer patients. Such an architectural design not only elevates patient’s mental and social support for dealing with cancer but also boosts their emotions.

The philosophy of designing architectural spaces by considering natural factors like light, colour, sound, pleasant view connect to the human emotions and have a great potential of having a positive impact on the psyche and emotions of the people.

For instance, light and colour play a vital role in sensory design in terms of visual effect. In a study by Professor Irving Biermann, of the University of Southern California it was revealed that when people view beautiful scenes, the nerve cells of the brain activates and the natural painkillers starts flowing thereby reducing the stress levels.

Patients’ view of Art in Healthcare Space

The art in hospital space has a subjective element attached to it. While some say that a kid can make it, others get inspired so much that they want to contact the artist to thank them.