I am proud of the murals I have painted at four psychiatric centers in Denmark, and each experience has left a deep impression on me. I especially remember the week I spent at the child and adolescent 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 great 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 truly feel the many layers of humanity, hope, and pain.
Mural in the common room, child and adolescent psychiatric ward at Glostrup Hospital
Mural at the child and adolescent psychiatric ward at Glostrup Hospital.
This is a photo of a pillar in the ward. They called this pillar the "hugging pillar," as you could always go and give it a hug if you needed to. Therefore, the mural was also focused on this particular pillar in the common room.
Art in Psychiatry Matters
Over the years, I have received emails from former patients and have had the opportunity to meet some of those who lived with my art while they were hospitalized. Each time, I am moved that they choose to share their stories with me. Their words give me a deeper understanding of what art can mean to people in a vulnerable situation. Hearing how my murals have created small moments of calm, 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 arises in the encounter between the artwork and the viewer. When I paint in psychiatric centers, it is my intention to create something that can provide a sense of peace and perhaps a little hope. Something that can be a visual comfort or simply a place where thoughts can flow freely.
Read more about murals in private homes and businesses by Rikke Darling.
