SANDPAPER BED 2018 Sculpture

Elder, a tech healthcare start-up invited me to contribute an artwork to their #endbedblocking campaign in September-October 2018. Objective: to help unblock NHS hospital beds more quickly by increasing awareness that a recovered elderly patient can go home safely and cost-effectively with an Elder carer. Strategy: by communicating to families/hospitals/stakeholders that their elderly/frail parent can continue to live independently in their familiar, cosy home with an Elder career. Tactic: through commissioning several artists to create works using a bed designed to provoke conversation and debate about ‘bed blocking’. Each artist’s bed will be exhibited in pop-up situations around the UK to engage their local communities. Then all the beds will be shown at a Private View in London attended by Elder’s key stakeholders and the media. Execution: ‘Sandpaper Bed’ On viewing the ‘Sandpaper Bed’, people will see and feel that it’s rough and uncomfortable. It’s a surprising sight and should provoke comments and discussion as to why someone might have to be in such a bed. This old hospital bed with sandpaper sheets and pillow case, is a symbol of the process of attrition surrounding ‘bed blocking’. It’s a simple idea which symbolises a complex issue with many conflicting interests: • The hospital wants to release their patient, but is anxious about doing so if they believe inadequate care at home will lead to a relapse and re-admission. • A recovered patient blocking a bed is preventing a less well person having it, and is likely to feel guilty. • The patient, often a widow or widower, wants to go home and remain independent, but may be unable to care for themselves on their own. • The relatives involved – often their adult children – are conflicted by scarce financial and time resources versus their desire to do the best they can for their parent. • The children may feel that a residential care home is the answer, despite its huge expense which would entail selling their parent’s property to finance it. • However their parent may resist the loss of their own home and may fear this would be their final move before death, and not wish to take it any sooner than absolutely necessary. • Many GPs and other experts recommend that elderly people stay in their own homes for as long as possible. • They may have considered in-home caring but worry about the cost and finding an appropriate carer for such an intimate task. Continuity is also an issue – what happens in the case of the carer being ill, or going on holiday? Materials An old 'King's Fund' metal hospital bed. 3M Hookit sandpaper with its fabric backing which has increased strength and flexibility, which makes it suitable for making a bed. A roll of Hookit has been donated by 3M, who also provided the same material for my Sandpaper Suit, tailored for me by Deborah Tallentire in 2007. Sofas & Stuff have kindly warehoused the hospital bed and sandpaper roll at their Head Office showroom at Fittleworth, which is about half an hour from The Cross in Chichester where the pop-up exhibition of the Sandpaper Bed took place on Friday 21st September 2018. References 'Bedroom in Arles', Van Gogh 1888 'Bed', Robert Rauschenberg 1955 'The State Hospital', Edward Kienholz 1966 'Bed-In for Peace', Yoko Ono and John Lennon 1969

Sculpture:Metal on Paper

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:37.4 W x 63 H x 82.7 D in

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