 |
 |
The idea for the
project was first hatched last December after seeing the colourful,
fun Circus Mural designed by Simon Harris for colourEverything.
Coincidently Flash discovered that CHISM, a department of the Children’s
Hospital at Westmead that specialises in paediatric sports medicine
for kids with special needs, chronic illness and disability was
badly in need of a facelift and two ideas came together for a good
cause.
|
| |
|
The
friendly faces from the circus provide a colourful distraction
for kids receiving often lengthy medical treatments |
The space, once best described as institutional,
is used as the main exercise testing room at CHISM.
CHISM sees over 100 children each month, some
having to spend long periods of time ‘staring at the
walls’ in the exercise testing room. Now instead of being surrounded
by grey hospital walls the kids receive their therapy in a room
filled with dancing elephants, trapeze mice and tigers jumping
through hoops, reflecting the vigorous activity that takes place
at CHISM.
Made from latex saturated reinforced nylon,
a tear resistant material, the mural was built to withstand the
rigors of an exercise room.
Simon Harris, the mural’s artist said “I
never imagined that one of the first examples of the mural use
would be in a children’s hospital, however, I can not think
of a better place for it.”
|
| |
|
| Dr Robert
Park, Head of CHISM (second from left) and Fredrik Uden, Director
of Flash Photobition, pictured with the Westmead’s
Clown Doctors |
Dr
Robert Parker, Head of CHISM was overjoyed by the outcome. “The
space was very clinical before”, he says. “When they
enter the door, children often become anxious or frightened. There
is a lot of scary equipment around, cardiac machines and monitors.”
“Now, the first thing that you notice
about the room is this fabulous, colourful mural. It really softens
the room and puts a smile on the face of the kids,” adds
Dr Parker.
|
 |
Flash
Photobition: Fredrik Uden, ph: 02 8594 3555, email fredrik.uden@flash.com.au |
| |
|
|
