Installation Piece

The project is an example of Anderson’s ongoing interest in the fields of physical, technological and theoretical advancement - in this case the development of branded pieces to promote healing. Phase one resulted in a series of ten artworks intended to assist with the hospital’s healing process.

The artworks (and as the project continues, further works) are made up of different elements/structures developed by using ‘new’ technologies mixed with traditional design, art, and craft media. Each work explores its environmental surroundings and functions in relation to them. Seen as a collection, these pieces serve a dual function - both as a light source and as a way of communicating through light, its healing properties.

In a similar fashion to many of the designer’s site-specific works, the content and starting point stems from local history and the area’s identity using the artwork as a way to popularise and communicate the city’s idiosyncrasies. This attempts to do so in such a way that invites its audience to participate and relate while being sensitive to a history of political conflict in the region.

One representative example is a light box whose visual content is made of young oak trees comprised of text where the text is a flowing history of landmark names in the city’s history. This is combined with a considered selection of healing colours in order to produce a piece, which has been welcomed, by the hospital staff and patients.

More recently ‘Oak Island Light Sculpture’ shares many of the same themes and processes prototyped in the light box installations, only on a much grander scale. This piece will be completed in 2008 in the hospital’s main entrance, but serves to demonstrate its commitment to Anderson’s design approach in consideration of the hospital as visually active healing environment.

• http://www.peterandersonstudio.co.uk/