Our Common Humanity by artist Juli Bolaños-Durman goes on permanent display at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital this week to mark World Mental Health Day today (Tuesday 10 October).
Our Common Humanity was commissioned by Tonic Arts, NHS Lothian Charity’s award-winning Arts in Health programme. It is one of over 60 major pieces of art and design commissioned by the charity for health care settings, across Edinburgh and Lothians, since the programme was first established in 2015.
These health care settings are often clinical environments, and Tonic Arts works with artists of all mediums, to create work that will soften these spaces and make them more welcoming and calming for visitors, staff and patients.
Our Common Humanity, which will be installed in the Reception Area of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital represents the community of the mental health hospital; tells a story and reflects a gathering of unique individuals; all with their own challenges and joyful quirks.
The piece will not only soften the environment around it, but it is hoped that it will also be a thought-provoking point of interest that will make people’s time in hospital better.
Juli Bolaños-Durman working on ‘Our Common Humanity’ , now on permanent display in the Royal Edinburgh Building reception area at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital – Photo Laura Meek
Our Common Humanity was developed from a series of art workshops run by Juli Bolaños-Durman and Tonic Arts’ partner organisation Artlink with psychiatric patients at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Here the patients’ need for connection in the everyday, and the importance of being held, supported, embraced and given a second chance were highlighted.
Juli Bolaños-Durman is an award-winning Costa Rican glass artist and designer based in Scotland. She is known for revitalising waste material by applying various heritage cold-working processes, and her practice is driven by her concern for sustainability and her desire to give both people and objects second chances through her work.
She was commissioned by Tonic Arts to create work for The Royal Edinburgh Hospital because her work is high quality and she places patient and staff involvement and representation at the very heart of the work.
Each element of Our Common Humanity is made from discarded glass which was collected and donated by The Royal Edinburgh Hospital community.
Using local heritage hand-cutting techniques, Juli has carefully deconstructed, embellished, and reused each piece in the making of this intricate work, breathing new life into these discarded objects. With the final display playfully lit to create magnificent shadows that bring the glass back to life.
Artist Juli Bolaños-Durman said: “I want the work to be testimony to our ever-changing journey: powered by trials and errors, vulnerability, and imperfection. Our daily interactions matter and each one of us has the power to make life better; with the support of the people around us and the community we foster.
“We are part of a great community that supports one another – no matter where we come from, no matter what we have been through, which is why engaging with psychiatric patients at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital to make this piece was such an important part of my process.”
Susan Grant, Manager of Tonic Arts said: “There is a wealth of evidence and research surrounding the benefits of arts in healthcare settings and how the arts makes people’s time in hospital better including; a reduction in the need for medication and length of stay, lessening anxiety and stress, and increasing patient and staff wellbeing.
“To have such a key piece installed in the reception at The Royal Edinburgh Hospital not only mirrors the quality of healthcare that you will receive in this building, but also provides a stunning focal point that speaks of our human need for connection and our willingness to give people a second chance.”
Our Common Humanity was commissioned by NHS Lothian Charity for The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. The work has been on temporary loan to the Scottish Parliament whilst The Royal Edinburgh Hospital underwent refurbishment.
It is now on permanent display in the Royal Edinburgh Building reception area at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
The lightboxes were designed by Scottish design studio GRAS Architects.