Hello Human
Fiona McCurdie
As a doctor, every day is spent dealing with the depth of the human being. At one end there is a meticulously intricate, biochemical, pathological, physiological human. At the other there is a boundlessly complex, emotional and volatile human. In my study of medicine thus far it has been necessary to use a depolarising and analytical thought process: I have been focussing entirely on the microscopic end of the spectrum.
Having looked at literature, art, and philosophy in our Creative Arts sessions I was reminded of how, in the medical macrocosm, scientific knowledge can only play a limited role. I felt I had lost sight of what humanity meant and how richly imperative this was to medicine. This painting was to remind myself of this. The human face shows the patient as a being of matter, it is juxtaposed with indistinct washes of colour reflecting the fragility of the human condition. The tactile felt is to reflect our pure, primitive desire to be touched. We hope that the doctor, even with cold, scrupulously sanitised hands, will touch us carefully, with precision and insight.
Creative Arts for Health, Year 2, 2011
This painting displays that within every patient is a person. To me the use of layered fabrics shows the many dimensions to each individuals personality and the colours display a range of complicated emotions which others may not always understand. I think the artist is trying to make doctors stop for a second and think about how they view their patients, as a piece of science? Or as person, like themselves. The facial expression to me shows hesitation, his eyes are sad and he is perhaps fearful. It shows a man in need of help and comforting.