The benefits and processes of commissioned art in Irish healthcare institutions

The motivation for my research into the importance and benefits of art in hospitals emerged from my first stay in a hospital whilst being unwell. I was intensely aware of the lack of thought put into the pieces of haphazardly hung pieces of art on the walls and how that reflected on the hospital’s atmosphere and environment. As a student studying art and design, I was curious as to how these pieces came to be on the walls, how many years where they were hanging there and who had painted them. I was submerged into a world of art in healthcare I never knew existed, it was inspiring to see how my craft could brighten the walls of a hospital building and bring solace and comfort to those who need it most and to see the intricacies and dichotomies of art and healthcare intertwining.