Viewing Hospital Rooms: Holding Space

Art & Mental Health

Now open at Hauser & Wirth’s London gallery is ‘Holding Space,’ a multi-sensory exhibition presented by the award-winning arts and mental health charity Hospital Rooms. Changing the face of the mental health care system one hospital room at a time, this August sees the return of the charity’s annual exhibition with Hauser & Wirth.

Questioning what a ‘Holding Space’ is, the show encompasses the reality of the mental health care system and injects hope into the space through art, music, murals and interactive installations. The exhibition brings together established and emerging artists such as Sutapa Biswas, Victoria Cantons, Richard Mark Rawlins, Jonathan Trayte, Richard Wentworth and Abbas Zahedi, as well as Hospital Rooms Lived Experience Team, National Opera Studio with South West London Recovery College Student. In their own way and through their own experience, each artist responds to the notion of ‘Holding Space’, from embracing cushions to sculptures and murals, each telling a narrative.

Come and walk among the stars in Sutapa Biswas’ mural containing 20,000 hand-painted stars that align to create consolations made in an OCD clinic in the newly built Springfield University Hospital. Elsewhere, embark on the visual journey of Katharine Lazenby, who tells her story of recovery through 144 Polaroids and witness the growing hope through her images. Interactive at its heart, lie down on beds surrounded by artists-made cushions to discover ceiling installations by Richard Wentworth.

As Hospital Rooms continue their partnership with Hauser & Wirth and stride towards their ambitious goal of raising £1 million over three years, come be a part of the journey. Couturier and long term friend, Giles Deacon, has released a limited edition pin, available to purchase online. The exhibition culminates in an online and live auction, taking place this September at Bonham’s Auction House.

Head to The Wick’s video interviews to hear from the Co-Founders of Hospital Rooms, Niamh White and Tim A Shaw.