Museum in London Hospital Showcases Art as Therapy
The Mind Museum, located within the first mental health hospital in the UK, displays art by patients and professionals as a form of therapy, while also reflecting on the history of psychiatry and psychology.
The exhibition of artworks within the Bethlem Royal Hospital in south London goes beyond exploring the facility’s past to delve into the different stages of psychiatric treatment, from admission to recovery.
According to the collection’s director, Colin Gale, the aim of the displayed works is to raise awareness about mental health conditions and reduce stigma surrounding them, as he believes mental health is still stigmatized despite advances in the field.
The museum, which is part of the National Health Service in England, offers free access to the public, allowing visitors to gain insight into a reality marked by prejudice that still exists today. By showcasing the artistic work of patients, the museum provides them with a platform to express themselves and offer new perspectives to those who have not experienced such illnesses.
Furthermore, the museum reconciles the past and present of the profession, displaying items associated with the darker aspects of the field alongside the evolution of techniques and treatments. Visitors are also confronted with moral dilemmas faced by mental health professionals, such as deciding whether to allow a person with severe depression to leave the institution for a weekend.
The museum serves as a bridge between a world often kept hidden from the public and school groups who visit. The current temporary exhibition, titled ‘A World Apart’ by Charles Lutyens, aims to shed light on environments that are usually concealed and evoke the complexity and fragility of human beings through art.
The paintings by Lutyens in the exhibition delve into his personal experiences and emotions, offering a relatable narrative to viewers. The director’s daughter, Joanna Lutyens, believes that her father’s work not only expresses the emotions of others but also reflects his own, making the exhibition accessible and engaging for a wide audience.
