Sell-by Date
Milly Wong
During a GP primary care placement, one patient said a phrase that really resonated with me. They described how their multiple health issues had led them to feel as if they had a ‘sell-by date’. This phrase had a lasting impression on me due to the bluntness and almost objectification of the patient by themselves. It portrayed their frustrations in such a strong manner with so little words.
The thought of a ‘sell-by date’ led me immediately to think about food and different packaging. I finally decided that the style of packaging of meat at a butcher would best fit with the idea I was trying to portray. I used mixed-media for my piece to try and convey an almost realistic product. I chose to use felt to sew a pair of kidneys because these were the organs my patient’s condition was affecting. The use of felt fabric helps to illustrate the fragility of the organs as it is soft to the touch and quite delicate. I placed the textile pieces on a polystyrene tray and wrapped them with cling film to emulate meat packaging.
I then hand-drew a label containing typical information found on food packaging but in relation to kidneys (e.g. Instead of ‘keep refrigerated’, I have written ‘keep heated at 37°c’, a human’s normal internal body temperature) and of course, most importantly… a best-before date.
Making this physical piece allowed me to materialise the idea of the patient’s objectification of their illness. This is almost metaphorical in the fact that I now have made an object of the illness that I feel was being objectified by the patient!
Throughout this process I have learnt that use of my artistic skills is a good and effective outlet for reflection and relaxation. It has allowed me to look at one small phrase and explore all the ideas surrounding it in correlation to my patient. This reflection time is important for a doctor – so may be something I implement more often.
I’ve really valued all my clinical placements so far as they give you the opportunity to experience situations where, although `YOU may be uncomfortable, this helps to explore patient’s concerns or ideas and allows you to learn how to handle complex consultations
This is true for the patient that led me to create this piece and it highlights how important patient-centred care is, and ways to manage negative feelings in a consultation.
Short-listed for the annual EC Creative Prize
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I believe the use of the patient’s quote to inspire a piece of artistic work to reflect and materialise the quote adds further depth to the creative piece; even without the explanation and motivation behind the piece it is one that can conjure multiple interpretations of its meaning. The beauty of the piece is expanded as it relates to every living human. We all have a “use by date”. An expiry date. A date where we stop function as living beings and essentially become “objects” of something that was once living. The use of felt to describe the fragility of life resonates with me, allowing me to appreciate how delicate life actually is. Overall, I believe this piece does an excellent job portraying these ideas and allows individuals experiencing this artwork to think about the ideas being portrayed for themselves.
I find this concept to be very creative, and I am especially drawn to how the labelling on the package is simple yet delivers the message of the piece. The best before date showing the fragility of our organs, the expensive price tag showing how priceless our kidneys are etc. The individual packaging of the organs in plastic also shows how a human body is built by different bits and pieces that functions individually and have their own ‘expiry dates’. The use of red and blue felt accurately represents the arteries and veins of the kidneys and the choice of medium reflects the delicacy of our organs. The quote that the patient said is accurately represented by this artwork, as it visualises that the human body is temporary and fragile, and everything has a time that they will cease to work.
I thought this was an incredibly effective, powerful piece. So often when making rationing decisions, doctors are forced to consider the value a human life holds versus another’s, but is also relevant to outside the medical profession, where organs are sold illegally, and it also links to the nature of life insurance, placing value on people’s lives. It also led me to reflect on how in some countries, healthcare has a market-like structure.
Artistically, this piece is fantastically executed and feels very unique, which is what initially attracted me to look at it. The way in which the artwork makes you consider the longevity of your organs, and your body in general is highly thought-provoking, and in fact prompts the viewer to think about how they are looking after their body and whether or not they are increasing or decreasing their ‘best before date’. Additionally, I think that the way the creator was inspired by their placement puts more meaning on the art project, and shows how impactful even the smallest of phrases can be.
I thought that this art piece is simple but visually striking with a powerful message behind it. The piece makes you reflect on the importance of valuing life and not objectifying patients especially towards the end of life by giving a graphic visual which demonstrates the patients perspectives and feelings. The way that something as valuable as someone’s life is represented by such an ordinary item as packaged meat drives home how objectified and unvalued a patient can feel. Overall, I think that this art work is very thought provoking and inspires people to think about how they treat others.
This art piece stands out to me not just because of its artistic value, but also the powerful message behind it which really moved me and got me to consider how diagnoses such as organ failure can really affect patient’s lives. Everyone can go into any supermarket and find packaged meat in different forms, however not everyone will experience how the feeling of end-of-life can relate to this, with people just walking by and not noticing the true effects of what’s currently happening. Patients may feel undervalued and that their time is running out, which is portrayed perfectly by this artwork. I also interpret this to show that people should try to consider their ‘sell-by date’, and how we can be comfortable knowing our actions are seeking to increase this rather than decrease this. In short the message this gives can be received in multiple ways, but we should all learn to be kinder to each other as the human body is truly incredible.
This piece stood out to me initially because of its simplicity and striking appearance – the bluntness of the visual of packaged kidneys, as well as the comparison of death to a sell by date, feels shocking, and contrasts the euphemistic way that death is often portrayed. This represents the challenge that terminally ill patients are faced with, particularly in a society that fears and avoids the subject of death.
After analysing the abstract and observing the intricacies of the artwork, I am drawn to how creative and compelling this piece of work is. It comments on how rationality and justice may appear to the patient, as in a fight for healthcare for all and equality, the human touch and importance is lost out, and a life can be quantified based on its organ price and compatibility. Representing this emotional experience of having an “expiry date” for the fresh looking kidneys conveys how healthcare can feel like a market.
I was immediately drawn to this art piece upon seeing it as it portrays the loss of humanity when battling multiple health issues by reducing the humanity and life of a human organ to butchered meat of a livestock found at supermarkets, ready for consumption. The dehumanisation that the patient feels is strongly emphasised through the nature of this piece. I also enjoy and appreciate the use of fabric material and cling film as it commits strongly to the imagery that was intended to be portrayed.
The use of multiple medias creates and delivers the message of this piece. The intricate work to create a model of the kidneys compared with the plastic packaging of the world shows that in the modern world, human biology is closely tied with technology and human intervention. The simple use of packaging and the label supporting it, delivers the message on the piece – that nothing can last forever. The packaging suggest that kidneys can be bought, making a patient feel like they need to go and “buy” life. This can demonstrate the patients perception of justice in the healthcare system as they have to fight for a resource that may eventually “go out of date”.
This piece aimed to highlight feelings of objectification patients experience by highlights the grim reality of perishable bodies. The artwork looks deceptively simple, however each detail adds another level of complexity and depth, which reflects on the nature of the issue itself. Additionally, the use of sewing added an element of familiarity which made the piece far more emotive.