Guy's Hospital Cancer Day Unit: Poetry & Illustration

Artist Heather Barnett and poet Will Holloway were commissioned by Willis Newson to produce artworks for the new Cancer Day Unit at Guy’s Hospital. The artworks were created in response to a series of word games and workshops held with patients, carers and staff.

The work produced, seen on walls, windows and screens, joins together the themes of the living city, navigation and the flow of nature, and draws attention to the fantastic views across London from the Unit. 

As visitors arrive they are greeted by a 10 meter long panoramic design of the London skyline, full of intricate and unexpected details. The city is a conversation and London is built on hundreds of languages, using many different alphabets, many of which are used on the window designs to welcome people to the unit. 

The glass privacy screens between the treatment areas contain waves and lines of poetry that diverge and rejoin. The words, inspired by the thoughts and daydreams of patients, can be followed in any order.

Images of city skylines and natural forms are also merged in a repeat pattern wallpaper designed for waiting areas.