Research on Possibilities and Tasks of Hospital Art:

Sculptures and Three-dimensional Works in Healthcare Facilities

Abstract

Research of hospital art or healthcare design needs more attention, as it is increasingly essential for our modern society. As a matter of fact, diverse attempts have been made in Japan. Academic institutions on this field are established, and conferences, practical reports, workshops and symposiums are performed. New or various Websites are available currently and research centers of universities or study groups play various roles. This hospital art is characterized by a profile of public art at a hospital which utilizes its public area for a large, unspecified amount of people to go in and out. There exist numerous sculptures and three-dimensional works in hospitals. A large potential is expected from taking advantages of hospital art, such as a sense of existence, a sense of solid form, spatial effects, and tactile art etc. Therefore, this paper represents possibilities and tasks regarding hospital art or healthcare design of sculptures and three-dimensional works based on our practical cases, “Four seasons tree” in Hiroshima University Hospital, focusing on free descriptive answers on theme, motif, size, form, color, and light of questionnaire surveys.