Caoimhe Diamond

Belfast City Hospital, Call Handler - Patient Liaison Line

Titles of Work:
Fresh Air
A Collectable
Comfort Space

Medium: Oil and Acrylic on Canvas

I Completed my Masters of Fine Art in 2019 at University of Ulster specialising in Painting. I see Painting as a platform for decoration and the layered application of paint itself becomes a vital accessory to my surface. Areas of My Paintings have been brushed on, sprayed on, pipped on or exist as a premade paint texture. The impulse to decorate or embellish and find pleasure in materials when it comes to space-filling is something I relate to in my painting process and compositions. I use references from the media, aspects of myself and of people I know to reflect personal aesthetic. It is the emotional response to the materiality of paint that I find interesting and understand what it is like to hoard in everyday life. I find it compelling that recreations of paint forms can gain added value based of personal labour and through its unique qualities as I sometimes “personalize mass produced objects”. I see knick-knack accessories, clothing, lucky numbers and common phrases as an extension of someone.

In September 2020 I started working on the Patient Liaison Line at the City Hospital. I really enjoy my job role liaising with the wards on behalf of the patients relatives for the Royal, Mater, Musgrave Park and City Hospital. I am really grateful to be working as an key worker during the pandemic as I have spoken over the phone and met so many lovely and unique people, especially the nurse staff and colleagues in our office. I have been interested in finding out and getting involved with Arts Care and I was pleased to see there is an Online Exhibition for staff to get inspired and create artwork. On my walk home from the City Hospital I kept walking past a man who was sat out his window alone getting fresh air watching the world go by, and I was so interested on how content he always looked in his own space as the street outside was quiet and dull due to lockdown. I interpret ‘blossoming’ as personal growth and adaption to changes around you. For many people over lockdown they have had to create new routines for themselves and develop new interests and goals while resources are limited to find contentment. Such as getting out of the house for fresh air, new hobbies, home improvements or playing bingo at home.

 

Caoimhe Diamond