Art is Good Medicine
IADT Art and Applied Psychology students recently collaborated to create an exhibition for the Herbert Wing of St Vincent's University Hospital.
There is evidence that the display of visual art can have positive effects on health outcomes and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors to hospitals.
Art can provide a positive distraction as well as moments of comfort and relief— “A painting transports me to a different place”. IADT Art students Steffi Kelly, Aoife Murphy and Katie Whelan recently created a series of paintings for exhibition in the Herbert Wing of St Vincent’s University Hospital.
They worked alongside Applied Psychology student Aoife McGuirk who charted the creative process of art students and tutors and aimed to evaluate the impact on the viewers of visual art.
Dr Ian Callanan, of St Vincent’s University Hospital writes “Hanging pictures always gathers a crowd; it is so heart-warming to hear people discussing pictures, what they like, what they get from the image, what stories it provokes. It provides a “sos beag” in what has been a hectic year. We are so grateful for the energy that the students have put in to make the lives of the staff and the patients that little bit brighter. We have big plans for future co-operation between IADT and St Vincent’s University Hospital”