York St John University photography students exhibit work at York Hospital

Twelve second year BA Hons Photography students are showing their work as part of an exhibition with the Contemporary Arts Gallery at York Hospital. The exhibition is a collaboration between the BA Hons Photography course at York St John University and the Hospital Arts Team at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Students were asked to consider how art in hospitals can influence patients and visitors. 

Dr Christina Kolaiti, Senior Lecturer in Photography at York St John University co-curated the exhibition with Elly Ross, Art and Design Project Co-ordinator in the Hospital Arts Team. Dr Kolaiti says, “This arts and healthcare collaboration encourages emerging qualities in the students' learning journey. It is an example of the way in which artworks and ideas can extend beyond the academic environment and become embedded into the public sphere.” 

Griselda Goldsbrough, Art and Design Manager at York Hospital added, “The students worked alongside the Arts Team at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to develop an exhibition aimed at improving the experience in hospital through creative engagement. The photography is of a very high standard and has received extensive praise from patients, visitors and staff.”

Student Kaitlin McMillan’s work is entitled ‘Reflexology’. Her piece was created using miniature coloured lights, photographed using soft focus creating abstract and distorted composition. Kaitlin explains, “The colours represent the colours of the chakras seen in the mind when receiving reflexology treatments to alleviate pain and heal the body. The piece also has influences from the Buddhist practice of light meditation, creating a calming space represented in the images. This in turn creates a talking point and somewhere for viewers to escape in the images, resulting in a more welcoming and pleasant environment at the hospital.”

The exhibition, which runs across the 70 year anniversary of the NHS on Thursday 5 July, is on display between Junctions 5-6 of York Hospital's main corridor until October. For more information, visit www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/arts-in-hospitals/exhibitions.