Murray Wilson

Please tell us who you are and your practice.

My name is Murray Wilson, I am a local amateur landscape photographer.

Please tell us about your connection to Liverpool Hospital?

I have three sons, and my eldest was born at Liverpool Hospital.

During the birth of my youngest son, there were some serious complications for both my wife and unborn child. It was a very tough time for my wife, me – as a husband and father – and my extended family.

I have immense gratitude to the doctors, specialists, and nursing staff at Liverpool Hospital who were absolutely incredible helping my family through a very tough time.

With the expert care, kindness, and compassion that was shown by Liverpool staff, we now have a very healthy and happy little boy.

What’s your theme or artistic vision? What are the stories that are important to you, that you want to capture?

‘Natural Landscapes’ are my theme. I love the natural colours of our landscapes; natural greens, browns, and bright blues.

I love being out and about in nature. Taking landscapes allows me to record a moment in time. I absolutely immerse myself in the landscape when I am out on a shoot where I wait for the right moment to record the image.

Taking landscape images allows me to share some of the incredible places and scenery right at our doorstep. I want the viewer to feel as though they are standing at the place where I captured the image.

I want my images to convey peace and calmness. I like to capture flowing waters and the reflections on still waters. I want them to experience feelings of peace and tranquillity invoking feelings of calmness.

Why did you want to submit your art to the hospital? And what did it mean to you to have your art on display?

I wanted to share my images with staff, patients, and visitors of the hospital. Sometimes being in such a clinical environment can make you feel so far away and alone. I wanted to improve the spirits of those visiting and working at the hospital.

I felt extremely proud and humbled to have my artwork chosen from so many other talented artists.

I also felt accepted into the artists’ community as I don’t consider myself as an artist, rather a lover of the natural environment.

As an artist, I want my artwork to provide positive emotions to the internal environment of the hospital (even a little bit).

As a Dad, I want my kids to think, “Wow, my Dad is Awesome!!!!”. I know they think that already!!!

What do you think is the role of art in Hospitals, given they can traditionally be quite staid places?

Hospitals can be very stressful places; people can feel loss, immense stress, sorrow, but also joy and happiness.

Art can totally change the space inside a hospital. Art has the power to transform a space and can change one’s mood.

What do you think is the role of art in the future of our community? What do you hope your art can help achieve?

Art can open your mind. It can take you to places you haven’t been before. It has the power to calm you and evoke emotions. Colours can also affect one’s mood, which is why I love taking images that are bright and colourful. I want my art to improve the mood of people who see my images.

Given hospitals can be stressful environments, I want my images to make you feel like you are in that landscape, maybe even a form of escapism that one can feel they are part of the landscape images. I want my images to make you feel at peace and provide a feeling of calmness and tranquillity.

As an artist, how else do you think we can look at art in places such as hospitals? Or other communal spaces?

Ever-changing.

How can we (the broader community) better support local artists?

When you come across art that you like or makes you feel good, share it with others!

Reena Naidu

Please tell us who you are and your practice.

My name is Reena Naidu. I was born in Fiji but of Indian heritage and migrated to Sydney Australia at the age of 8.

The fundamental part of my art practice is drawing and everything else that comes after that evolves in a unique way, texture, mark-making, mood, colour. It’s the process of drawing that motivates me, it is a form of meditation, it’s thought-provoking and relaxing. I am able to forget about everything around me and enter into a new realm.

My process of mark-making started through cultural patterns and motifs found in oceanic art and now has expanded into working with ink on Linen. I love using ink and watercolours on the Masi (Bark Cloth) as it brings out the patterns and textures of the material.

What’s your theme or artistic vision? What are the stories that are important to you, that you want to capture?

I take inspiration from my cultural background, life experiences, and surroundings of nature. Time, place, and movement are all important ideas that I continue to explore.

I always paint what I feel as the emotions and mood in a painting to me is more important than anything else. It’s like creating a life journal but at the same time sharing the stories with the world.

Do you have any connection to Liverpool Hospital?

I don’t have any connection to Liverpool hospital, however, I do have a connection to hospitals in general. My mum was a breast cancer patient who is now in the recovery process and my dad suffered a stroke which left him bed-bound, he is now in a nursing home and needs 24hr medical attention. So I have had plenty of visits to different hospitals and know the effects it can have on patients as well as their families.

Why did you want to submit your art to the hospital? And what did it mean to you to have your art on display? As an artist and/or as a dad.

When I create I want the viewers to not just look at my works but I like them to feel connected. If my art has made a difference in someone for good or made them smile then I have succeeded as an artist.

What do you think is the role of art in Hospitals, given they can traditionally be quite staid places?

I believe everything that we encounter in life can have a positive or negative effect on us. Visual arts in hospitals creates a positive environment. Art contributes to creating an environment and atmosphere where patients can feel safe, socialise, and maintain a connection to the world outside the hospitals. The presence of visual art in hospitals contributes to the mental health and happiness of a person.

What do you think is the role of art in the future of our community? What do you hope your art can help achieve?

It may improve the image of an area, help participants in personal development and mental health. It can help local people recognise their own cultural identity and give us a sense of belonging. Another role is social interaction where it can bring communities together. I hope my art can bring communities together, create memories, and have a positive impact on individuals.

As an artist, how else do you think we can look at art in places such as hospitals? Or other communal spaces?

We can look at art as a form of communication between the art and the viewer.

How can we (the broader community) better support local artists?

Have more local activities, such as art festivals, art competitions, community projects where artists can participate and continue their art practice but also to have something that will help generate an income for the artists.

Please feel free to book in your free on-site consultation to talk about how we can bring local art into your space. Beyond our art rental, we also facilitate the sale and commission of artworks, creative team-building events, and pop-up art exhibitions. Contact us today on [email protected] or on 0433 403 044.