Evelina CRF, Wolf

Evelina London

Drawings of wolf cubs on yellow and orange shapes.
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Did you know that wolves have 200 million scent cells? Humans have only 5 million!

This is one of the amazing facts to learn in Wolf department.

The children who come here have Proportionate Short Stature (PSS): a small body, in typical proportions. Visits are brief, but very important: they contribute to ongoing research to understand PSS better, through observations, monitoring, and height records.

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Green sign for 'Bed 2' with wolf drawing.
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We worked with illustrator Kiriko Kubo to develop a range of Arctic wolves, who playfully inhabit the department interior, at low heights where patients can see them properly.

Some are sleeping, some cuddle into their mothers for warmth, others play-fight, and one of even stares back, making eye contact.

They’re all at ease in their environment. But the wolves are not alone! Human field researchers are observing them and making measurements.

Illustration of 3 wolves walking against a yellow shape.
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The symbolism is simple: the patients are like the wolves, and the doctors are like the arctic researchers.

Kiriko’s drawings convey a depth to these relationships: the field researchers are gentle, curious, respectful of the wolves, and at points wolf and human share moments of play, curiosity, and mutual interest.

Art in Site‘s Celia Knox devised an interior design scheme that brings the whole environment to life, encompassing the illustrated wolves and researchers, along with beautiful intersecting colourful shapes, bedheads, signage, and fun facts about wolves and the arctic.

The coloured shapes are rendered in the same material as the clinical wall protection. This keeps costs down, ensures easy maintenance, and makes for seamless integration between art and environment.

It’s a sophisticated approach that manages to do a lot with very little.

"Thank you so much for taking our brief about what we do into consideration, not just in words but actually depicting it in the wolf and people drawings. The proposals showed that you all really listened to the heart of the work and the importance of getting this right for our children and families.”
Matron, Paediatric Research
Colourful shapes and art of Inuit people.
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This case study is part of the wider “Evelina Clinical Research Facility (CRF)” project. The CRF project features 3 departments incorporating art, interior design, playful journeys, and colour.

See Projects for all Evelina CRF case studies.

The artwork has been supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, which helps create a world-class environment for patients, staff and visitors at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Project Information

Date
2020
Sector
Healthcare
Service
Children's: Outpatients Allergies
Client
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust
Artists
Kiriko Kubo
Team
Celia Knox
Awards
EHD Awards
2023
Highly Commended
,
Art & Interiors Award