An art exhibition currently at West Bridgford library is attracting a huge amount of interest, with visitors remarking on the show’s emotional impact.
What gives this exhibition such emotional resonance is the fact that many of the people involved in its production were dealing with extremely complex health conditions.
The exhibition is a collaboration between artist Paul Lillie and over 100 other people, including patients, visitors and staff, who he worked with during a residency for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in 2024. The centre piece is a multi-media mural which explores the role of music in healthcare, depicting a dementia choir led by actor Vicky McClure performing in a QMC hospital ward.
Paul Lillie, who trained at Wimbledon School of Art, explains that “a number of the participating patients were in palliative care and found much peace and contentment from the creative process, whilst in the case of patients recovering from conditions such as strokes it noticeably supported their recovery”.
During his time as artist in residence Paul sketched and painted many staff members, visitors and patients including Matilde, a two-year-old living with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi. Her parents were keen to raise awareness of this health condition by including her portrait in the exhibition. Paul explains that “it was a tremendous privilege to work alongside so many patients, staff and visitors. Their tenacity and bravery was inspirational.”
Since the end of the residency Paul has continued to work in the palliative care department and the exhibition features recent work by a number of outpatients.
Also on display are Paul’s own personal landscape paintings which he completes on location in one day.
The exhibition runs until April 25th 2025.
Further information about Paul Lillie can be found at www.paullillie.net
