Julia Vogl
Leaves Illuminated, 2017
Lightbox, frieze, cushions, bespoke tote bag: wood, Perspex, silkscreen ink, LED lights, fabric, plastic
Bereavement Suite, Whipps Cross Hospital and Barts Mortuary
A two part commission located at two sites: Whipps Cross Hospital Bereavement Suite and the Barts Mortuary.
Following the death of a patient, bereaved family members or carers collect their loved one’s death certificate and formally register the death, which is often their last experience of the hospital. The environment in which this happens is therefore important, and needs to be meaningful. Working closely with the Trust’s Bereavement Coordinator and multi-faith Chaplaincy Team, Vogl transformed the area where grieving families gather, into a sanctuary of peace and reflection.
Drawing on Islamic tile patterns, historic designs by William Morris (whose family home is located nearby in Walthamstow), as well as trees found on the hospital site itself, her installation includes prints, a frieze that wraps around the room, an illuminated sculpture and cushion covers. Her design even extends to paper property bags, which serve to collect possessions of the deceased for families to carry home, thereby replacing the ordinary plastic bags previously used. Her work ensures families don’t feel rushed or distracted, and have the privacy and space necessary for such sensitive conversations to take place.
Vogl’s lightbox Leaves Illuminated is comprised of layers of silkscreen printed leaves from the False Acacia Frisia Tree which is found in the courtyard below the canteen at Whips Cross Hospital. The leaves symbolise the many cycles of life from seasons to generations. As a stain glass artwork, Leaves Illuminated seeks to create a harmonising, contemplative environment, one of reflection both internally and beyond.
