Noida Children Hospital all set to have murals of happy kids, Nature

Team L&M

St+art India Foundation, in collaboration with Asian Paints, have launched the very first St+art Care initiative. The annual project is an art intervention that aims to bring art into government-run institutions. The first to benefit under this initiative is The Post Graduate Institute of Child Health, Sector 30, Noida. The institute caters to super specialty care of children and is one of a kind institute in our country.

A hospital’s physical environment affects the patient’s recovery time. A growing number of studies show that an aesthetic environment is an important factor in contributing to children’s perceptions of the overall healthcare experience, while potentially contributing to feelings of wellbeing. Infants experience separation and stranger anxiety when they are exposed to new people and relations such as those with hospital staff. They often have to spend long hours without their family and miss their home comforts. The presence of an unfamiliar environment in a hospital makes children scared and anxious. Hence, there is an immediate need to create a warm and welcoming environment in a hospital.

With the first project of St+art Care, the vision is to contribute to turning the stressful and intimidating experience of the hospital into a more friendly one, especially for its young patients.

The art interventions will be phased, and would be initiated over the span of a few years. For the first phase, the focus will be on the outer facade of the hospital.

Arjun Bahl, Co-Founder St+art India Foundation says, “St+art Care aims to bring art to and transform spaces, which are usually neglected such as Pediatric Hospitals, Old Age Homes, Orphan Homes etc. Our mission is to contribute to spaces, which are funded, by Governments, NGOs and Nonprofits by bringing visual narratives, color and vibrancy to them. Research has shown that the presence of art and color in interior spaces significantly adds to the healing process by uplifting the mood and morale of the patients, doctors and the caregivers. It also alleviates despair and uncertainty associated with these spaces.”

Prof Ajay Singh, Director, Postgraduate Institute of Child Health, says, “In association with Asian Paints & St+art India foundation, there is an effort to introduce art in hospital settings to enhance the healing of children who come for both outpatient and inpatient services. In phase 1 of this project, the façade of the building is being transformed with murals of children that show happiness, nature and positivity. The creative arts and healing have been scientifically linked. Art and health have been intrinsically linked since the beginning of recorded history. Visual art, music, dance and expressive arts like storytelling have a significant impact on the minds of children. It helps in generating a positive frame of mind, gives a refuge from the emotional turmoil of illnesses, and helps focus on healing of the body and mind. We are positive that art installations such as these will go a long way in improving the outcome of our children who visit our hospital.”

For the second phase, a photo gallery, art installations in outpatient and inpatient wards, CT scan and ultrasound rooms, operation theatres etc. have been planned.

Artists Swati & Vijay begin work on the outer façade of the hospital this month. The theme of the artwork is an interpretation of nature within the framework of urbanization. The mural will show children lifting the glass block indicative of buildings today to show nature behind it. Two other kids look on with amazement from another block, at the beauty of nature beyond mass urbanization.