Signs for Remembered Spaces

At the end of 2002 artists Chris Helson and Sarah Jackets were commissioned to create a pilot artwork within Dykebar Hospital and to consult with Staff, Patients and Visitors to assist in the formation of an Art Commissioning Plan for the Hospital.

Their key recommendations at the end of the consultation were:

1. To establish an Environmental Development Group (EDG) within the hospital, with representatives from within the hospital and trust ( Estates, Nursing, OT, Project Management, Administration, etc) and representatives with particular skills from outside the hospital ( Architect, Environmental Psychologist, Artist, and Project Manager).

2. To seek funding for the development of two significant capital arts projects.

• * One of which would focus on transitional spaces; physically (movement between inside and outside, private and public) and metaphorically ( the journey of recovery).
• * The other would focus on healthcare, exploring therapeutic environments.

3. To appoint an Environmental Psychologist to assist the artists with their work and to advise the EDG.

4. To seek funding to for an artist to creatively and critical evaluate the infrastructural planning, art and architecture within the hospital and to explore models of practice within other psychiatric hospitals.

The aim of the EDG would be to:

1. Challenge the architectural and infrastructural master planning for Dykebar.

2. Manage the artworks programme.

3. To dream, not just to look to redevelop current provision, but to fundamentally explore possibilities.
To open up ideas. We would like a room in the hospital where it snows all year.
When one Occupational Therapist was asked what he would like in the hospital he replied, ‘an integrated treatment centre’.

4. To establish an environmental philosophy for Dykebar. Hold seminars, develop innovative practice, question the culture and the institution.

5. Develop a long term plan for environmental development.

Pilot Project

During our initial research we use, drawing, video and photography to explore aspects of the way the environment is used and how people move through the hospital. We were particularly interested to work with some of the people who are not usually consulted, but have a unique understanding of the hospital environment, for example the cleaners and porters. Watch the ‘Cleaners’ video



From this initial research we worked with patients and staff to explore the environment within Dykebar from memory. We asked each person to draw a place or space that was important to them without going to the space.





Our intention was to map the perceived space /key points of reference. We were interested in how different users understand the hospital environment.



Using the drawings as a starting point we developed a series of signs for specific areas. The signs were positioned to be viewed once the viewer had left the space that was represented on each.





The signs were temporary, our intention was that the signs would initiate a dialogue, question perceived ideas of the environment and reveal issues of orientation and cultural shifts arising from infrastructural changes.