NHS Lothian Charity’s Tonic Arts Showcase
NHS Lothian Charity was delighted to host an event at the Parliament, sponsored by Daniel Johnson MSP, to celebrate the work of its award-winning arts in health programme, Tonic Arts, and showcase its loan to the Scottish Parliament Garden Lobby of Juli Bolaños-Durman’s artwork “Our Common Humanity”.
“Our Common Humanity” was created in collaboration with patients and staff to go into the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and has been on loan to the Scottish Parliament since Spring 2022 before returning to the hospital in Autumn 2023.
The event provided a great opportunity to highlight the importance of art and creativity in health and celebrate the innovative and pioneering practice of the Charity’s Tonic Arts programme, taking an holistic approach to positively impacting health and wellbeing and transforming the experience of healthcare.
Tonic Arts Managers, Susan Grant and Len McCaffer spoke about the founding principles of the programme to support and promote the experience of patients as they navigate the physical and emotional experience of arriving, waiting, receiving treatment, and staying in hospital. Guest speakers, including commissioned artists, partners, staff and patients then provided their own experience and insights into how important art and creativity are in enhancing clinical environments, to create welcoming, nurturing, stimulating spaces for patients, staff, and visitors, and also in enriching experiences, to help reduce stress and isolation, build confidence, and support positive clinical outcomes.
Take a look through the photos from the evening:
Our Common Humanity
Created by Juli Bolaños-Durman, “Our Common Humanity” was created in collaboration with patients at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
Patients took part in workshops and those interactions informed the development and outcome of the final piece. It is a play of glass and light, shaped by community engagement with art, and highlights the very basic human need of connection.
Every glass piece is brought to life by deconstructing discarded glass, which has been collected and donated by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital Community. Juli then reconfigured the elements through play and embellished the decadent layers using local heritage hand-cutting techniques. Playing with light brings the beautiful shadows to life whilst manifesting the magic of a second chance. In the end, each piece is a poetic act of rebellion; a resilient rebel that embodies a symbol of hope.
It was commissioned by NHS Lothian Charity for The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. The artwork was loaned to the parliament while the hospital underwent refurbishment and will be installed at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Royal Edinburgh Building for World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2023. It is Juli’s largest installation to date, in partnership with GRAS Architects.
