I am proud of the murals I have painted in four psychiatric centers in Denmark, and each experience has left a deep impression on me. I especially remember the week I spent in the juvenile psychiatric ward in Glostrup, where I painted a mural. It was a week filled with conversations with young people who shared glimpses of their lives and thoughts. It made a big impression on me – an experience that was both enriching and emotionally challenging. I am someone who absorbs moods and energies, and when I work in places like these, I really feel the many layers of humanity, hope and pain.
Mural living room, juvenile psychiatric ward at Glostrup Hospital
Mural at the juvenile psychiatric ward at Glostrup Hospital.
This is a photo of a pillar in the ward. They called this pillar the hug pillar, as you could always go over and give it a hug if you needed it. That's why the mural was also focused on this pillar in the living room.
Art in Psychiatry Matters
Over the years, I have received emails from former patients and have had the opportunity to meet some of them who have lived with my art while they were hospitalized. Every time I am touched that they choose to share their stories with me. Their words give me a deeper understanding of what art can mean to people in vulnerable situations. Hearing how my murals have created small moments of peace, reflection or inspiration means everything to me.
Art is not just colors and shapes on a wall – it is a form of communication. It is a language that speaks to emotions and thoughts, and the magic occurs in the encounter between the work and the viewer. When I paint in psychiatric centers, it is my intention to create something that can give a sense of calm and perhaps a little hope. Something that can be a visual comfort or just a place where thoughts can be allowed to flow freely.
Read more about my murals
