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On 23rd April, the Artscape Gallery will become the first art gallery to create a natural world video installation that never loops at the University College Hospital in London.
Art has a powerful presence at University College Hospital (UCH) in London which is part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Exhibitions are regularly held in the UCH street gallery and a number of permanent installations are on display in the hospital.
The latest exhibition is based on Biophilia, a long-standing theory which explains that humans, having evolved in the natural world, have a hardwired affinity for plants, animals and scenic landscapes. Engaging with the natural world has restorative, calming effects, while, conversely, living in a sprawl of asphalt, steel and concrete heightens anxiety and stress.
From 1999-2002 the Chelsea and Westminster hospital conducted a clinical study into the effects of landscape artworks on their patients. The results irrefutably proved a significant reduction in blood pressure, heart rate, stay duration, and readmission rate of their patients. Many other studies, such as those by Roger S. Ulrich, confirm these results.
Unlike the natural world, landscape paintings do not move. With this in mind, Artscape Gallery is taking this unique opportunity to propel this area of research forward into the realm of video art, and offer UCLH patients an unprecedented healthcare environment.
Artscape Gallery represents a group of artists exploring the new medium of the video painting. Video paintings are filmed in a single take with a stationary camera. They contain no edits or subsequent manipulation and show the real world in real time. Unlike the moving images of the more conventional film and video tradition, the unexpected restraint of the video painting offers a deep tranquillity and immersive subtlety.
For UCLH, Artscape have compiled 106 video paintings, totaling over twelve hours of work, from five of the video artists they represent: William Raban, Hilary Lawson, Sanchita Islam, Isabelle Inghilleri and Alex Bettler. The collection of work on show is titled Outside and has been curated specially by the gallery in conjunction with healthcare experts to create an installation of calming and inspirational video studies.
As the first London gallery to specialise in video art, and specifically this new medium, the video painting, we have found ourselves in the unique and exciting position of being able to work alongside healthcare professionals to carry out a series of studies, which could transform the future landscape of our healthcare environments.
Klina Jordan, Director, Artscape Gallery
The installation will be located in the main reception area of UCLH from 23rd April for three months.
For further details, please contact Klina Jordan on 020 7837 3000 or klina@artscapegallery.co.uk.
