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Watching Video Makes You Healthier

Artscape Gallery at University College Hospital in London

On 29 April 2008, the Artscape Gallery will become the first art gallery to create a natural world video installation that never loops at the University College Hospital in London. (The opening was originally scheduled for 23 April, but was delayed by six days.)

The latest exhibition is based on 'Biophilia', a long-standing theory which explains that humans, having evolved in the natural world, have a hardwired affinity for plants, animals and scenic landscapes. Engaging with the natural world has restorative, calming effects, while, conversely, living in a sprawl of asphalt, steel and concrete heightens anxiety and stress.

From 1999-2002 the Chelsea and Westminster hospital conducted a clinical study into the effects of landscape artworks on their patients. The results irrefutably proved a significant reduction in blood pressure, heart rate, stay duration, and readmission rate of their patients. Many other studies, such as those by Roger S. Ulrich, confirm these results.

Unlike the natural world, landscape paintings do not move. With this in mind, Artscape Gallery is taking this unique opportunity to propel this area of research forward into the realm of video art, and offer UCLH’s patients an unprecedented healthcare environment.

Artscape Gallery represents a group of artists exploring the new medium of the video painting. Video paintings are filmed in a single take with a stationary camera. They contain no edits or subsequent manipulation and show the real world in real time. Unlike the moving images of the more conventional film and video tradition, the unexpected restraint of the video painting offers a deep tranquillity and immersive subtlety.

The Artscape Gallery has previously been commissioned to create permanent installations for healthcare institutions like the Surrey and Borders NHS Trust, and has organised temporary exhibitions for locations such as the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Feedback from staff and patients who have viewed these healthcare installations has been positive – the artwork is thought by many to have therapeutic value as the artists’ representations of the natural world are both calm and uplifting. In order to gather more formal qualitative feedback about the benefits of the video painting in a healthcare environment a survey will be carried out over the course of the exhibition.

For UCLH, Artscape have compiled 106 video paintings, totaling over twelve hours of work, from five of the video artists they represent: William Raban, Hilary Lawson, Sanchita Islam, Isabelle Inghilleri and Alex Bettler. The collection of work on show has been curated specially by the gallery in conjunction with healthcare experts to create an installation of calming and inspirational video studies.

During the period of installation a group of researchers will embark on a detailed study of the impact of video art on patients. The study will be followed at a later date with a clinical trial assessing the health impact of video paintings, conducted by researchers from the University of Surrey at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.

Klina Jordan, Director, Artscape Gallery, said: "As the first London gallery to specialise in video art, and specifically this new medium, the video painting, we have found ourselves in the unique and exciting position of being able to work alongside healthcare professionals to carry out a series of studies, which could transform the future landscape of our healthcare environments."

The installation will be located in the main reception area of UCLH from 29th April until the end of July 2008.

For further details, please contact Klina Jordan on 020 7837 3000 or klina@artscapegallery.co.uk