Close Observation
Anni Moodie
Mixed-media
This piece demonstrates how the patient may have felt during their long stay in a hospital ward
All the figures are made from crochet, to symbolise we all come from the same threads, healthcare worker or patient, despite the different roles they take on in hospital.
I wanted this piece to be able to viewed from two different angles – on one hand, the unravelling yarn could be viewed as the patient coming undone in hospital, due to them feeling isolated and overwhelmed. My patient was on one-to one continuous monitoring, which they mentioned felt invasive and frustrating. To exaggerate this effect I made five healthcare staff and only one patient, to visually represent the feeling of being crowded and constantly watched.
The other way this piece could be viewed is that the patient, undone and worn out from their health condition, is being built back up by the healthcare staff, as they provide care, respect, and treatment to help the patient back their dignity and autonomy. The different shades of pink in the figures demonstrates how many different parts of the profession need to come together and act as one to give the patient holistic care.
Here I also wanted to highlight how the hospital staff are physically giving a part of themselves through their wool intertwining with the patients, symbolising how much NHS staff give up physically, emotionally and mentally to give patients the best experience they can.
Effective Consulting, Year 1, 2024/5
This piece of artwork is very striking as I find it demonstrates the importance of relationships between the doctor and patient but also the relationship between different healthcare professionals.
I like the choice to put the patient in white wool and the healthcare professionals in reds and pinks, because it focuses the attention to the patient using a colour that would typically be associated with doctor’s and their white coat. The use of red and pinks might demonstrate how much strain the different healthcare professionals are under and a taxing part of working within the NHS. Also the use of the different colours reminds the onlooker that there is always a large multidisciplinary team working to care for patients.
The use of the unravelling is particularly poignant as to me it could not only be suggestive of the invasions of privacy a patient goes through in hospital but also the fact that the patient is likely to be in a difficult mental situation, and the unravelling of the staff suggests that they are too emotionally strained trying to deliver the best possible care. Really great work!
This piece of artwork inspired me as it highlights the fragility of life. The use of yarn being unravelled by healthcare professionals is powerful, as it represents how they help ease the anxiety and stress that patients often feel. The release of the knot can symbolize the release of pressure, showing the patient gradually becoming more comfortable and developing trust with the healthcare team.
The use of white yarn exemplifies the vulnerability of patients in hospitals. White is often associated with peace and hope, suggesting what the patient is striving to achieve. In contrast, red initially carries negative connotations, such as anger or pain, but as the yarn unravels, its meaning transforms into one of love, care, and compassion. This change captures the evolving relationship between doctor and patient.
The figure sitting down and taking notes introduces a more experimental, clinical tone, reflecting how patients can sometimes feel studied rather than cared for, showing that this artwork thoughtfully portrays both the emotional challenges and the balance of vulnerability, empathy, and connection within patient centered care.