In recent years, the influence and benefit of visual arts and art in general on the treatment process for patients in hospital facilities has been increasingly discussed in an international context.
More and more hospitals in advanced healthcare systems are paying significant attention to this aspect. A number of studies are available that present evidence that confirms the positive effect of art on the psychological and physiological state of the patient, where the result can be a shorter hospital stay, increased pain tolerance and reduced anxiety (1,2). Some studies are already investigating deeper details, for example whether figurative or abstract art is more appropriate (3).
Due to the high demands and level of stress of work in hospital facilities, the environment and visual arts also have an effect on reducing the negative consequences of exhaustion, overload and burnout syndrome of hospital employees.
That is why modern hospitals are increasingly collaborating with artists and architects to implement visual arts into hospital spaces.
For the patient as well as for relatives and friends, a visit to a hospital or hospitalization is associated with a high degree of stress and a feeling of isolation. Illness is a natural part of life and natural negative emotions and feeling of isolation should be minimized.
Therefore, the hospital should not only be a place where painful examinations and complex operations take place, but a place where ordinary life also takes place, and this undoubtedly includes cultural events such as art exhibitions and music concerts.
The Faculty Hospital in Motola is the largest medical facility in the Czech Republic, where a number of exhibitions and attempts to place art works in the hospital premises have already taken place. The culmination and essential act was the placement of the Basic Atomic statue of Kristof Kintera in front of the main entrance to the hospital.
This installation was very positively received by patients and hospital staff and became the subject of many interesting discussions.