Mindful art observation
Limina Collective joins Vital Arts at St Bartholomew’s hospital to develop an alternative way to engage with artworks around the hospital.
A group of men and women sit in a waiting area at Barts Hospital and observe a piece of artwork
Working with specialists in combining mindfulness with art engagement, Limina Collective, Vital Arts have launched a new project at Barts Hospital that explores a unique way to look at art.
Founded by Karly Allen and Lucia van der Drift, Limina Collective develop audio recordings and workshops that encourage sustained observation and a deeper connection with art whilst feeling the wellbeing benefits of mindfulness. They have produced projects for national museums and galleries across the UK, and are excited to bring these practices, for the first time, to the hospital environment.
Since 1996, Vital Arts have been invested in transforming the clinical landscape with world class, original art. We recognise that hospitals are important community spaces which are ideal to introduce new audiences to the transformative power of art. This project aims to open the world of art to an even wider audience by offering an alternative way to engage with art. Additionally, looking at art with mindfulness can have a calming, pleasing effect on the mind, and improve wellbeing. Coming into close connection with an artwork, even for a few minutes, can offer a rest from the thoughts that occupy us.
Limina Collective have carefully selected a beautiful Darren Almond piece from the photographic installation produced for the Radiography Department. Running throughout his work is a reflection on time, duration and memory. For these images, the artist has travelled far and wide to remote geographical areas. These pictures are taken in the middle of the night, using only the full moon as a source of light, and an extended time exposure. Entitled Fullmoons, these meditative and evocative photographs are filled with a strange and frozen beauty. Almond’s images expose what happens when you give landscape longer to express itself.
Participate
We invite you to take a restful pause with this artwork and listen to the 4-minute mindful audio. Allow yourself to be immersed in this landscape photograph, guided by the words in this 4-minute mindfulness practice.
Find a comfortable place to stand or sit press play on the audio link below to listen.
Listen with headphones if you have them.
Fullmoon @ Kanaal
Outcomes and evaluation
We are running further engagement opportunities over December in all 5 hospitals that form Barts Health NHS Trust.
