The Texture of Air is an art and heritage project honouring the two famous hospitals at a moment of change. Eastman Dental Hospital and Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital both left their historic homes on the Gray’s Inn Road, and united in a new shared facility in October 2019.
The artists began by inviting staff and patients to walk and talk through the hospitals. They found many treasures in the old buildings - a relic of St. Blaise; a “museum” of ear trumpets, an ark-load of specimens ranging from a pygmy shrew to a giraffe, a Friday knitting club, a cherub fountain, door handles emblazoned with wise owls.
An archive of oral history conversations with staff and patients, music, field recordings and the audio-visual work can be found on the website.
About UCLH Arts & Heritage
UCLH Arts & Heritage is the hospital arts and heritage project that serves UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and its surrounding community and is funded entirely by charitable donations and fundraising. UCLH Arts & Heritage is committed to providing a welcoming, uplifting environment for all patients, visitors and staff through the use of a varied and stimulating arts and heritage programme. Its work aims to improve the patient experience, boost staff morale, increase engagement with the arts and celebrate the Trust’s unique heritage and community.
Since 2005, UCLH has worked to improve patient and staff outcomes through the Arts. It does this in a number of ways, including a changing exhibition and music programme, creative workshops on wards, artist residencies, commissioning site-specific artwork, and a staff culture club. UCLH arts and heritage receives its funding from UCLH Charity and the Friends of UCLH.
Website: https://
Twitter: @uclh
Instagram: @uclh