‘Rights in their Eyes’ art display goes on show at Tallaght University Hospital
By Mary Dennehy
A TEN-year-old patient of the National Children’s Hospital in Tallaght has drawn a colourful self-portrait of herself as a Harry Potter character flying over the local health facility as part of a special exhibition on the rights of children and young people.
A touring exhibition called Rights in their Eyes has arrived in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), with the framed collection boasting 11 pieces drawn by some of the winners of the 2017 Texaco Children’s Art Competition.
Young artist Saoirse Brophy shows her picture to Niall Muldoon, Children's Ombudsman and Aimee O'Neill, art therapist TUH.
Young artists were asked to choose a right from the UN Convention on the Right of a Child (UNCRC) and create a new piece of art expressing their views on what it is like to be a child or young adult growing up in Ireland today.
To mark the arrival of the national exhibition and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UNCRC, the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght invited its young patients to respond to Rights in their Eye and the 25th anniversary by creating self-portraits.
Young patient Saoirse Brophy, who, from Tallaght, is a student of Solais Chríost, captured a child’s right to Play and Rest for her colourful creation.
Speaking with The Echo, Soairse’s mam Siobhan Brophy said: “Saoirse is obsessed with Harry Potter so she drew herself flying high over the hospital on her broom wearing her pyjamas and a Griffendor scarf.
“She loves art and I have to say that the art therapy in the hospital is amazing, it makes such a difference.
“Not only does it help kids to take their mind off being in hospital, but when they come into the ward with the art trolley, it allows patients to take a guilt-free break.
“Parents know that their child is happy and busy and it gives them a chance to grab a coffee.
“I’ve seen the benefits of the art therapy, it’s very important.”
Saoirse, who has cystic fibrosis and was in hospital to start a new drug called Orkambi, was delighted to see her art work hanging on the walls of the hospital.
According to a spokeswoman for TUH, 21 Portraits of Me now hang alongside the 11 Rights in their Eyes pieces.
“The [Portraits of Me] project promoted conversations amongst the patients whilst gathered around the art table in the play department, discussing the importance of children’s rights with a focus on the right to access to healthcare”, the hospital spokeswoman said.
“Children who were restricted to their beds were given the opportunity to complete their artwork at the bedside.
“The project promoted inclusivity and was open to all children who wanted to participate, co-ordinated and under the guidance of Aimee O’Neill, Art Therapist, and Catherine Garland, Hospital Play Specialist in conjunction with the National Centre for Arts and Health.”
She added: “The intertwining of the two exhibitions further echoes the importance of the rights of the child in highlighting an opportunity for all the artworks to be seen alongside each other.
“We hope it will inspire and engage conversations amongst our patients, staff and visitors over the coming months.”
The art pieces will hang in Hospital Street in Tallaght University Hospital for the next three months, with members of the community and all patients and visitors invited to drop by.
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