University News Last updated 30 May 2012
A piece of commemorative artwork by a group of creative students from Birmingham City University has been unveiled at Birmingham’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.
The showcase was created to celebrate the Hospital’s fifth year as a Foundation Trust. The university began the project with the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust nine months ago in partnership with Birmingham Institute of Art & Design at Birmingham City University.
The artwork was unveiled by the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Donal O’Donoghue, in the company of the project team, patients and staff in the outpatients department.
The piece looks back at the life of the ROH since it was founded in 1907; the middle of the artwork showcases archive images and further towards the edge shows the hospital in the present day.
Second year Graphic Communication student and Project Manager, Daniel Cooper, said: “The team and I feel very proud to see our work shining in the hospital entrance. It has been a great experience for all of us; especially as this is the first time we have collaborated together to produce a body of work like this. We would like to thank the hospital for their support with the project and also, Vicky Atkinson, the original project manager for her invaluable contribution to the project during its early stages.”
The completed artwork is only phase one of the project between the hospital and university. The next phase is the publication of a book that features archive images and sections of the hospital where cameras can’t normally go, capturing the past and present working lives of its patients and staff. The book will be handed over to the hospital to mark the end of the project at a private exhibition at the School of Art, Margaret Street on June 21st. The exhibition will feature a collection of photography from the project photographer Keith Meredith, sculptural artwork from James Gill and design work from Emma Quirk and Daniel Cooper.