Dentists feature in Bristol art exhibition

Dentists feature in Bristol art exhibition

An art exhibition at The Island in Bristol showcased artwork from ‘local voices of healthcare’ such as dentists, doctors and vets.

The exhibition ran from 18-21 April. It featured what organiser Bernice Nzinga described as ‘the perspectives of healthcare workers in the Bristol area through art’. Attendance was free but several of the works displayed were for sale, with Bristol Central Arts receiving 20% of proceeds.

Returning for the second year in a row, the theme of this year’s exhibition was emotions. The prints and original artworks on show ranged from educational pieces on health-related topics to more personal works. Both students and working healthcare professionals have contributed their creations.

In collaboration with Artspace UK, medical students from the University of Bristol curated the exhibition to convey realistic experiences of healthcare workers. The students said that these experiences are usually confined to the news and social media.

Art in medical training

At Bristol Medical School, students are provided with opportunities to create artworks as a formal part of their degrees. Professor Trevor Thompson, a tutor at the university, said this is informally referred to as ‘compulsory creativity’.

Professor Thompson explained several reasons why he finds this creativity beneficial in medical training. He said: ‘Having an opportunity to conceptualise and express an experience using novel means such as art, poetry, or music allows students to explore and consider an experience in dimensions other than that of the formal medical history.

‘This looking with the eye of the artist can help the student develop their sensory acuity and empathy for the patients’ lived experience.’

He concluded: ‘Though we don’t teach creativity, we certainly need it.’


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