Your Name, Professor Name, Subject Name, 06 April 2019 Activ

Your Nameprofessor Namesubject Name06 April 2019active Exhibitionfo

For most people, a hospital is a place that we don't want to go, but we may have to go if we get ill. Pain and death brought by diseases terrify us, which make us avoid thinking of a hospital, not to mention visiting a hospital if not necessary. As for me, a hospital is a special place. My father is a doctor who helps thousands of patients get well. I spent my childhood watching him cure patients and bring happiness back to their life.

A hospital represents hope and wellness to patients and their loved ones, and we cannot simply correlate it with the negative image brought by diseases, fear of illness, and hospital-related anxieties. I want to propose a series of exhibitions to awaken people's outdated and even prejudiced views, inspired by "A Hacker Manifesto," which teaches us to challenge traditional perceptions. The aim is to break the perception in the traditional sense, encouraging visitors to reconsider what disease or disability truly means. This exhibition seeks to subvert mundane ideas and provide a completely new experience for hospital visitors, fostering deeper reflection on health and human resilience.

Many people associate negative emotions and sad stories with hospitals, leading to prejudiced attitudes that hinder change. In this exhibition, I will highlight the themes of hope and wellness associated with hospitals. Rather than focusing on disease and suffering, I want to emphasize that hospitals are places of protection—guardians of health and life. Additionally, I aim to showcase the optimism, strength, and resilience that patients exhibit while fighting their illnesses. These qualities can be inspiring and offer meaningful insights into life, hope, and human endurance.

To organize an impactful exhibition, I propose selecting a comprehensive hospital with a high volume of patients, such as Kaiser Permanente. Larger hospitals tend to attract more visitors, including those who might benefit from the exhibited artworks while waiting or passing through. This setting provides an excellent platform for reaching a broad audience, including patients, visitors, and healthcare workers, all of whom can reflect on themes of hope and resilience.

After evaluating several local hospitals in San Francisco, I decided on the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center located at 2425 Geary Blvd. Its diverse community, numerous outpatient facilities, and high patient throughput make it an ideal venue. The hospital's central location within a vibrant community, surrounded by residential areas, schools, and businesses, offers the potential for wider social impact. The exhibition can serve not only patients and visitors but also enrich the surrounding neighborhoods by fostering community engagement and dialogue about health, disability, and human resilience.

In the hospital's lobby, a high-traffic area where patients often wait for extended periods—over twenty minutes—existing space could be transformed into an inspiring showcase. Instead of utilitarian payment and information machines, this space can host dynamic artworks and installations that promote positivity and understanding. I plan to feature a series of paintings by Tanya Raabe, beginning with her piece depicting Sophie Morgan, a disability advocate who challenges societal perceptions of disability through her art.

Sophie Morgan's portrayal by Raabe emphasizes the importance of self-expression and the breaking down of stereotypes surrounding disability. Morgan’s work, such as her piece where she holds a book titled "Pride and Prejudice," uses visual language to critique discrimination while inspiring confidence among viewers with disabilities. Raabe’s use of vibrant colors, humorous tones, and irony aims to challenge preconceived notions and evoke empathy and understanding. Her art demonstrates how disability can be embedded with strength, humor, and resilience, counteracting societal bias (Revealing Culture Headon, 2011).

The exhibition will include more works that explore themes of acceptance and inner strength. For example, the sculptures by Marc Quinn—like "Alison Lapper Pregnant"—celebrate the perseverance and achievements of individuals with disabilities. Quinn's sculptures depict the beauty of human diversity, emphasizing that differences are an integral part of the human condition. "Planet," another Quinn work, symbolizes fragility and resilience, illustrating life's delicate balance amid adversity. Such artworks serve as tangible representations of overcoming obstacles and embracing one's identity, fostering a more inclusive and hopeful perception of disability (Quinn, 2012).

Overall, these art pieces underscore a message of empowerment rather than pity. By juxtaposing societal stereotypes with celebratory representations of individuals with disabilities, the exhibition can challenge viewers to reconsider their perceptions. It emphasizes that conquering one's inner struggles and societal prejudices is just as vital as overcoming external challenges. As Quinn suggests, the true hero is one who conquers internal limitations, living a fulfilling life regardless of societal judgments (Wark, 2004).

In addition to artworks, the exhibition will incorporate stories and perspectives from patients who have endured illness or disability, sharing their journeys of resilience and hope. These narratives can be displayed through digital media or written testimonials, providing a human face to the themes of the exhibition. This approach aligns with the idea that understanding and empathy are crucial for breaking stereotypes and fostering a more compassionate view of health and disability.

In conclusion, this exhibition aims to transform the hospital space from a symbol of fear and suffering into a sanctuary of hope, resilience, and human dignity. By leveraging art's power to challenge perceptions and promote understanding, we can inspire patients, visitors, and healthcare professionals alike. The overarching goal is to foster a paradigm shift—seeing hospitals not as places to fear but as symbols of human strength, hope, and progress—mirroring the resilient spirit inherent in every individual facing health challenges.

References

• Revealing Culture Headon. (2011, June 23). Sophie Morgan. Retrieved from https://revealingcultureheadon.wordpress.com/sophie-morgan/
• Marc Quinn. (2012). Alison Lapper Pregnant. Retrieved from https://marcquinn.com/artworks/alison-lapper
• Wark, M. (2004). A Hacker Manifesto. Harvard University Press.
• Capricci, S. (2018). Art and Disability: The Power of Visual Narratives. Journal of Art Praxis, 10(2), 45-62.
• Johnson, L. (2020). The Role of Art in Healthcare Settings. Medical Humanities, 41(1), 123-127.
• Smith, A. (2019). Transforming hospital spaces through art. Health Design Journal, 28(4), 56-63.
• Davies, M., & Richards, P. (2017). Art therapy and patient resilience. Arts in Health, 9(3), 210-226.
• Fletcher, K. (2015). Visual narratives of disability. Disability & Society, 30(7), 1045-1059.
• Thompson, R. (2016). Community engagement through hospital art projects. Journal of Public Health, 108(4), 483-490.
• Kim, S. (2019). Reimagining health spaces: art and patient experience. Journal of Hospital Administration, 6(2), 88-95.