Art from children of NHS workers star in new ‘rainbow wall’
Artworks created by the children of Barts Health staff during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic have gone on display at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The Rainbow Wall has been installed in the hospital’s King George V (KGV) building and features more than 50 paintings and drawings.
The Wall includes artwork displayed on the clinic television screen and can be viewed by staff and patients.
During the spring of 2020, as the virus took hold across the world, the rainbow became a symbol of hope for many and rainbow pictures were displayed in the windows to people’s homes, vehicles and workplaces, including in the intensive care unit at St Bartholomew’s.
The idea of a rainbow wall was conceived by Simon Finney, an intensive care consultant at the hospital, and Vicky Kelly, a consultant clinical psychologist.
Simon's children, Anna, aged 8, and Thomas, 11, were among the first to provide artwork for the display and helped launch a call-out to the children of other hospital staff.
Barts art therapists Megan Tjasink and Poppy Stevens worked with design agency Whybrow Perdrola to create the wall which is located by clinic two on the ground floor of KGV. Megan Tjasink, lead art therapist, said the call-out back in spring received an enthusiastic response.
“Children were keen to show support for their parents in their work environment at a difficult time, and our staff found comfort in being connected to their family in this way”, she said.
“Many of the rainbows, originally on the wall of a wellbeing space for intensive care collegues, have been incorporated into the new display, for everyone to enjoy.”
The installation is part of ‘Coping through Connection and Creativity’ – an initiative from the hospital’s art therapy team using the power of art to support colleagues during a challenging period for all NHS employees.
It was made possible thanks to generous donations from two local companies – Whybrow Perdrola, a design agency based in Somerset House and Blaze Signs, a London-based signage company.
Last month, an exhibition featuring artwork from St Bartholomew’s Hospital staff launched in the Great Hall.
All staff are invited to view the exhibition, which is open until 20 November, whilst also spending time in new wellbeing spaces which have opened up in the North Wing.
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