Inside Hospitals: An Imposed Aesthetic
Aesthetics we'd like to see more of: Adrian Kiva and Dr. Carol Wiebe at Misericordia Eye Care Centre of Excellence waiting room associated with Buhler Eye Care in Winnipeg, MB.
Painting by artist Marilyn Settle purchased through Warehouse Artworks
By Maren Kathleen Elliot
Maren Kathleen Elliott is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and emerging social-practice artist. Over the last 16 months she has been researching, connecting, and reflecting on the aesthetics of hospital spaces during a mentorship with cj fleury, and in partnership with Radical Connections. Catch her upcoming presentation online on May 11th, 2022 via Ria Links Salon in the cloud. To reserve your spot, please email researchinart.ria@gmail.com.
Every institution we enter, whether it be an airport, library, or art gallery, surrounds us with its aesthetic. The colours of the walls, smells, sounds, art (or lack thereof), density of people in the space, all combine to initiate the experience of the space, and set the stage for the human, interactive events that complete this experience. In a way, these spaces are places of Imposed Aesthetics, since we do not choose how they are designed. There is no personalization inherent to, say, an immigration office or a lecture theatre. We don't decorate them with flowers, images of loved ones, spiritual symbols or other objects of personal meaning that allow us to reflect and express ourselves and our values. In our homes, lockers, desks at work? Sure. But in an institution people are not in those spaces to be who they are, but rather to operate within the system for which the space has been designed.
I have fond memories in some of these places (for instance--public libraries, museums, theatres, the Engineering side of the University of Alberta Campus) and I think what this boils down to is that although the buildings weren't designed for me specifically, in the systems they hosted a lot of thought was put into creating accessible, positive, beautiful spaces rather than just being completely utilitarian. Plus, there were clearly enough resources available to entertain or prioritize these considerations. In these settings I was comfortable with the Imposed Aesthetics...I didn't even think about them being imposed. Rather, they were just sort of present. A gift more than an imposition. Besides, if I didn't like a place, I could always just leave when I was done my business there.
But Imposed Aesthetics become much more harmful in situations where personal freedom and individual autonomy are heavily restricted, such as when folks are navigating the criminal justice system. During these experiences, individuals are the mercy of the system. Consequently, at the mercy of the spaces within which these systems operate. This is also the case for individuals accessing (or attempting to access) healthcare.
There is currently a crisis of imposed aesthetics systemic to healthcare in general. This is taking place throughout all different types and levels of Healthcare interaction; from acute to community and outpatient care. In these settings, we are at the mercy of the system and often have to endure a "hurry up and wait" process. So what is around us while we wait? While we toggle between ‘fear’ and ‘boredom’? According to Alexandra Kirsh, curator at the Royal Victoria hospital in Montreal, QC, these are two big emotions experienced by hospital users.
Squeaky sneakers on the floor. Beeping machines. Conversation, the clacking of keyboards, pop radio, and “Ask Your Doctor About” brochures. Maybe we’re waiting at a blood lab and it smells like alcohol swabs and BD Latex Free Vanilla Scented Tourniquets and the phlebotomist is playing Michael Buble over a bluetooth speaker. Or maybe our Doctor’s office has some kind of inspirational quote framed on the wall. Live, laugh, love. Hurry up and Wait.
In these spaces, visual, sonic and other sensory stimuli combine with the cultural background, individual tastes, and healthcare status of system users. At times these increase wellness, other times they increase stress and detract from overall quality of care.
Some environmental features are inherent to the delivery of care and thus cannot be controlled (i.e. sounds of machines, sanitary infrastructure etc). But what CAN we control and improve? And how do we determine WHAT might make things better or worse? Furthermore, is there a way to include those most impacted by these decisions in the conversation? People like staff (both medical AND support staff), families, and especially the patients who wield the least amount of power in these worlds?
Over the last 16 months I have been researching, connecting, and reflecting on these questions under the mentorship of cj fleury, and in partnership with Radical Connections. Across Canada, from the University of Alberta Hospital's Mcmullen Gallery to the curation of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, a movement is happening where people are understanding and advocating for humanizing healthcare with the arts. Let's keep it up.