| Have you ever been at the clinic, waiting for your turn | | | | thoughts away from all things unpleasant. Art may also |
| to see the doctor, and all you see on the walls around | | | | accelerate the healing process. This is the reason why |
| you are posters on cancer prevention, reminders for | | | | some hospitals have beautiful art hung on its walls. This |
| you to do your annual medical checkups, dealing with | | | | is what the patient really needs. |
| rheumatism in old age, diabetes… the list goes on. All | | | | What kind of art to display, you might ask. Well, apart |
| around us, we’re flooded with uncomfortable | | | | from movie or music posters, because they hardly |
| images and messages that remind us that we really | | | | seem appropriate, almost any other kind of art will do. |
| need to take good care of our health. Although these | | | | A good choice would be abstract art. Pick something |
| posters are there for a reason – to inform and | | | | that has soft, pastel colors that calms the mind when |
| educate, they certainly add an unwelcome addition | | | | looked upon. Abstract, or contemporary art, doesn’t |
| because they inject an element of fear into all of us. | | | | represent anything in its true form, but rather it is an |
| Here we are, waiting to see the doctor, worried sick | | | | abstract representation of it. Much of it is left for the |
| that our illness could get worse, and all we see in front | | | | user to interpret what it’s all about. This will certainly |
| of us are images and information about illnesses and | | | | keep the patients busy as they wait their turn. |
| disease. We really don’t need these at this time. | | | | Abstract art will give the place a nice contemporary |
| Tell us these things when we’re well, not when | | | | feel and make it seem less like a clinic and more like |
| we’re sick. | | | | an art gallery. |
| Having been a patient myself (and who hasn’t), the | | | | There are many choices of abstract art to choose |
| waiting area at the doctor’s office is quite a | | | | from. Prints of abstract flowers will add a nice, warm |
| stressful place to be. As you’re waiting for your | | | | touch to the office. What about black and white |
| turn to see the doctor, your mind is full of apprehension | | | | abstracts? This will create an interesting contrast with |
| and uncertainty as to what the diagnosis might be. The | | | | the colors around it. You could also display abstract art |
| last thing you want is to be bombarded with images | | | | of other genres, like collages, geometric abstracts, |
| and media detailing out a plethora of possible ailments | | | | abstract landscapes and abstract figures, among |
| you could be diagnosed with. It just adds to the stress. | | | | others. The choices are plentiful. If you’re not into |
| Strip this entire media off the walls, I say. Remove | | | | contemporary art, why not use pictures of animals? A |
| every shred of evidence that this place is a clinic. | | | | picture of a cute kitten or puppy can do wonders to |
| Patients don’t need reminders as to why | | | | encourage healing and comfort. If you can’t keep a |
| they’re there. Put in its place decorative art work. | | | | real pet in the doctor’s office, then display a picture |
| Surround the walls with art and beauty. Put some | | | | of one. The effect may not be the same, but it |
| framed pictures on the assistant’s counter top. | | | | certainly is nice to look at and takes a great deal of |
| Having a beautiful piece of art to look at will certainly | | | | stress off the patient. |
| make your wait a lot more pleasant and take your | | | | |