Art on the Psychiatric Ward

Artist and Royal College of Art tutor, Harold Offeh, was commissioned by Hospital Rooms, the arts and mental health charity, to work with patients from the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Bethlem Royal Hospital to bring art into these clinical settings. Offeh describes the resulting collaboration as “paying focused attention to the overwhelming possibilities of our external environment.”

The participants mapped their experience of their immediate surroundings through detailed rubbings of the architectural surfaces. These were then incorporated into dizzying lenticular patterns by Offeh, who later combined them with audio pieces sampling jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie and readings exploring mindfulness—the mental process of paying attention to the present moment, which is often used to reduce stress and anxiety.

At the Great Exhibition Road Festival, Offeh will bring this project to the V&A stage. Part audio-visual performance, part discussion of Offeh’s practice and inspiration, it promises to be a fascinating exploration of how art can transform any space and the perspectives of the people who reside within it.

Visitor information

Talks and discussions are intended for an adult audience and are best suited for ages 16+.

This event is one of the Art of Science talks, and there will be advance tickets released for this event closer to the Festival weekend. 

If you have an advance ticket, please arrive at the venue 10 minutes before the start time. Your ticket gives you priority access, however, as this is a free event we overbook to help ensure a full event and your space may be reallocated. Early arrival reduces this risk.

To see the precise location of where this talk is taking place, you can use what3words.com with the code 'zealous.older.medium'. The lecture theatre is inside the V&A, accessed via level 2, please use the stairs or lift by the V&A cafe.

This event has step-free access.

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