As the incredible Hospital Rooms Cornwall project comes to a close, we were delighted to attend an exhibition evening showcasing the various outstanding artworks across Bodmin and Redruth Community Hospitals, at The Exchange in Penzance.

Celebrating the months of immense hard work, high-quality art and a united sense of community on and off the hospital wards, the room held a huge sense of joy, pride and achievement.

Welcoming creative activity into these environments, Hospital Rooms help channel vital modes of expression often overlooked, encouraging staff and patients alike to craft absentmindedly and be free of structure, expectations, and judgement.

Coming together to ensure greater accessibility for everyone, the team of twelve phenomenal artists, including St. Eval sponsored Ben Sanderson, worked tirelessly to create each unique piece now permanently installed across the mental health wards in Cornwall.

Aiming to create conversations rooted in creativity, these visually stimulating installations provide an anchor for communications outside of oneself, as this diverse range of bright, light and interpretive art pieces add a touch of colour and noticeable intrigue to the wards.

Ben’s wonderful artwork, A Blue Between Two Greens, is a group of wall paintings which Ben developed for the dining room in the Cove Ward at Redruth Community Hospital.

Evolved from paper-making workshops that Ben ran on the ward and at The Tate St. Ives, where the leftover paper was repurposed to create new, colourful sheets. Giving life to new paintings, these artworks created elicit memories and emotions, captivating fragments of conversations shared by Ben and the patients throughout the last year. Stemming from a moment with one patient in particular in the ward’s garden, her light green top and olive trousers on the green floor beneath made her trousers appear temporarily blue. After a few light-hearted jokes, this simple, humorous moment and conversation sparked the idea for an artwork that shifted through colour spectrums.

As one of the final artists to complete their installation, Ben was able to use the paint that remained from the other now completed artworks. Much like the reuse of Ben’s old paintings to make new artworks in the studio, these leftover colours became the starting point for his final three paintings adorning the Cove ward’s dining room.

Adorned in the centre of the room, Ben’s small garden paintings acts an anchor between the two larger patchwork paintings, tying the room together around the borders and frames set within the image.

At the heart of their work, Hospital Rooms convey the importance of creativity and work towards art becoming a pastime, activity and something that everyone can fairly observe and feel a part of.

Gracing its attendees with walls dressed by these beautiful works, the talent, passion and dedication of Cornwall’s local community were spotlighted by the support from the artists, service users, staff and organisations involved. The project’s success has created ties across the creative industries and is a testament to the positive power of art.

The Hospital Rooms Cornwall project has transformed the hospital wards with creativity, heart, and vibrant art that reaches beyond the ward and walls. Each artwork represents a new layer of connection, inspiring staff, patients, and visitors together. This heartfelt project is a true testament to the power of art to foster healing, dialogue, and hope. As we celebrate its success, we look forward to seeing this spirit of collaboration and community continue to flourish across Cornwall and beyond.

Follow @stevalcandles and explore more of Ben's world and work @sanderson_ben.