Commissions in the Octav Botnar Wing (OBW)
The Octav Botnar Wing (OBW) is a six-storey building at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) that opened in early 2006.
It includes an orthopaedic inpatient unit, a medical day care centre and the Harris International Patient Centre.
Each floor of the OBW is named after an animal or natural element – many of the artworks relate to these themes.
The artists who were commissioned include:
Kenny Hunter sculpture in OBW
Kenny Hunter is one of the UK’s foremost figurative artists and is famous for his engaging sculptures.
Kenny used the theme of the natural world to develop
a sculpture which stands between three buildings – OBW, Southwood and
the Camellia Botnar laboratories.
The sculpture looks at the co-existence of humans
and animals in the urban environment and considers how animals exist in
the city. There are more animals to look out for on the walls and window
sills of the link atrium including a squirrel, a falcon and a pigeon.
Mariele Neudecker - Miniature landscapes
Mariele
Neudecker works in sculpture, film and photography. She is nationally
and internationally renowned for her atmospheric representations of
landscapes in glass vitrines
Mariele created three miniature landscapes based on
imaginary worlds for the circulation areas of OBW, inspired by the
different themes of each floor.
Hoss
Gifford is an award-winning digital industries specialist. He has
published several books, is a visiting lecturer at Glasgow School of Art
and is a regular speaker at international design and technology
conferences.
Hoss created an animation for the lift cars of OBW.
The animation tells the story of the imaginary island of Tookubah, an
island paradise in the middle of a far-away ocean. No person has ever
set foot on Tookubah, but it is home to a collection of eccentric
creatures.
Iain
Kettles and Susie Hunter trained in environmental art and jewellery
respectively. For the OBW they created a giant inflatable tree stalk
that supports an inflatable bird, caterpillar and rabbit. The artwork is
colourful, dynamic and fun and can be viewed from the waiting and play
areas which overlook the atrium.
Clare Twomey installation in OBW
Clare
Twomey collects everyday objects – such as butter dishes, teacups and
spoons - and casts them into walls to create extraordinary
installations.
Clare has cast more than 2,200 children’s toys and
household items from different cultures and periods for the entrance
atrium of the OBW.
