All the Machines in the Hospital by James Gulliver Hancock

21 Oct 2022

As providers of health care and research, the latest technology we use to aid us in diagnosing, treating and improving peoples’ health outcomes is both exciting and fascinating, but for patients the complicated and sometimes scary looking equipment we use day to day, can amplify any anxiety a patient may be experiencing.

To help our patients feel more comfortable with the equipment and technology that are part of their health journey, St Vincent’s Art Curator, Alice McAuliffe invited artist and illustrator James Gulliver Hancock to draw ‘All the Machines in the Hospital’.

James is an internationally renowned illustrator with a diverse career that includes the creation of a large scale mosaic in a New York Subway station, a collaboration with Lonely Planet, and the creation of large scale mural works in shopfront and office fit-outs for many major brands including Target, EBay, Woolworths and Kelloggs.

James’ St Vincent’s project follows on from his recent works known as “All the Buildings” which started with an illustrative recording of all the buildings in New York and evolved in to All the Buildings Los Angeles, Melbourne, Sydney, Paris, and London.

For ‘All the Machines in the Hospital’, staff were asked to identify key equipment used in the day-to-day of their specialty and share them with the artist, who had taken up temporary residents in the Xavier Mezzanine. For large pieces that were unable to be moved, photographs were taken for the artist to draw from. As staff explained the equipment to James - key sentences and ideas, translated for a lay audience, were included in the illustrations, so people viewing the drawing can better understand the machine’s purpose.

After three days, the outcome is a series of drawings that capture the robotic, computerised, technological partners of our human health journey, but rather than cold and clinical, they take on a friendly, familial personality.

The completed illustrations will be installed in relevant areas of the hospital and also printed onto smaller sheets, available for patients in waiting rooms to colour in, take notes on or even share with family members to explain their treatment.

It’s hoped that this project will aid in demystifying hospitals and the equipment within them, so that all patients feel safe and welcome.