Above and Beyond Charities - The Charitable Trust for the United Bristol Hospitals

The installation of a stunning sculpture, suspended from the ceiling of the new Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) will see the culmination of months of hard work by collaborating artists, Jan Blake and Rob Olins. This week everyone will be holding their breath as the newly assembled sculpture will be carefully lifted into place using a combination of twenty people, a couple of winches, a cradle, and a cherry picker.

Local artists, Jan and Rob were commissioned along with other artists from around Bristol and the UK to create a series of artworks for the BHI. Funded by the Above & Beyond Charities Heart of Bristol Appeal, the sculpture is the first piece to be installed. Inspired by the idea of a ‘lifeboat’ suspended in space, it will be made of metal rods, making reference to reed constructions and coloured glass beads, to add colour and create a reflective element. The sculpture will be visible from all levels of the building and provide a focal point for patients and visitors.

Bob Pepper, Director of Facilities and Estates for University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said, “The beneficial value of artwork and a stimulating environment has long been accepted as having an important contribution to patient wellbeing and a speedy recovery. This exciting programme of artworks, developed with patients, staff and local residents has been carefully integrated into the design of our new centre. It carries on the precedent set in the Children’s Hospital and illustrates our commitment to providing state of the art clinical care in a first class environment. “