In January 2020, artists Paul Whittaker and Tamsin Griffiths – Four in Four, began an Arts Council of Wales funded project in collaboration with Cardiff & Vale Health Charity Arts Team, the All Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre at University Hospital Llandough, and also supported by our Patient Experience team.
As the Covid-19 crisis grew and our face to face arts-in-health projects were placed on hold, we looked at how we could adapt Paul and Tamsin’s inventive arts sessions to provide much needed virtual sessions with our patients to support them during isolation.
The result was an innovative online visual arts collaboration, CF Voices, the aim to work with 10 people living with Cystic Fibrosis to create artworks in a medium of their choice as an expression of their thoughts, feelings and experiences. A series of sessions (both group and one to one) helped to create a close, supportive and energetic group, who have created a collection of powerful, fascinating artworks which we can share through our online Virtual Hearth Gallery Exhibition, and a Plaza Exhibition, open to our staff at UHL.
Ym mis Ionawr 2020, dechreuodd yr artistiaid Paul Whittaker a Tamsin Griffiths – Four in Four, broject wedi ei ariannu gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru mewn cydweithrediad â Thîm Celfyddydau Elusen Iechyd Caerdydd a’r Fro, Canolfan Ffeibrosis Systig Oedolion Cymru Gyfan yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Llandochau, a hefyd gyda chefnogaeth ein tîm Profiad Cleifion.
Wrth i argyfwng Covid-19 dyfu ac wrth i brojectau gael eu gohirio, edrychom ar sut y gallem addasu’r sesiynau celf dyfeisgar i ddarparu sesiynau dros y we yr oedd mae mawr eu hangen ar ein cleifion i’w cefnogi yn ystod eu cyfnod ynysu.
Y canlyniad oedd cydweithrediad celf weledol arloesol ar-lein, Lleisiau SFf, a’r nod oedd gweithio gyda 10 o bobl yn byw gyda Ffeibrosis Systig i greu gweithiau celf mewn cyfrwng o’u dewis i fynegi eu meddyliau, eu teimladau a’u profiadau. Helpodd cyfres o sesiynau (grŵp ac un i un) i greu grŵp agos, cynhaliol ac egnïol, sydd wedi creu casgliad o weithiau celf diddorol y gallwn eu rhannu drwy Arddangosfa Oriel Rithwir y Mynydd Bychan hygyrch ar-lein, ac Arddangosfa Plaza, sy’n agored i’n staff yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Llandochau.
Paul Whittaker and Tamsin Griffiths developed a new online arts working practice, working instinctively and sensitively to the needs of all the participants. As we continue to respond to the enormous challenges of the Covid-19 crisis to support our vulnerable patients during lockdown and beyond, we look forward to developing further virtual creative arts projects – To learn more about the project, please get in touch
Datblygodd Paul Whittaker a Tamsin Griffiths arfer gwaith celfyddydol ar-lein newydd, gan weithio’n reddfol ac yn sensitif yn unol ag anghenion yr holl gyfranogwyr. Wrth i ni barhau i ymateb i heriau enfawr argyfwng Covid-19 i gefnogi ein cleifion agored i niwed yn ystod y cyfnod cloi a’r tu hwnt, edrychwn ymlaen at ddatblygu projectau celf creadigol rhithwir pellach – I ddysgu mwy am y project, cysylltwch â ni
Four in Four
Tamsin Griffiths and Paul Whittaker are artists with a Mental Health diagnosis, based in Cardiff. We create interactive arts projects that challenge perceptions about health to show that people are more than just their illnesses – we are people too.
We are passionate advocates of the patient experience. Its authentic portrayal though the arts is important to us as we consider it vital to social change and how we talk about it.
The arts are a powerful tool for engagement and conversation, which is why everything we create is considered and represents the patient experience in its truest form; with humour, compassion and empathy. We have a ‘Duty of Care for All’ philosophy that lies at the heart of all our work and can ensure confidentiality. Please visit us at http://www.fourinfour.co.uk
Four In Four
Mae Tamsin Griffiths a Paul Whittaker yn artistiaid traws-ddisgyblaethol â diagnosis Iechyd Meddwl (IM), sy’n gweithio yng Nghaerdydd. Rydym yn creu projectau celf rhyngweithiol sy’n herio canfyddiadau am iechyd i ddangos bod pobl yn fwy na dim ond eu salwch – rydyn ni hefyd yn bobl.
Rydym yn eiriolwyr brwd dros brofiad y claf. Mae portread dilys trwy’r celfyddydau’n bwysig gennym ni gan ein bod yn ei ystyried yn hanfodol ar gyfer newid cymdeithasol a sut rydyn ni’n siarad am salwch.
Mae’r celfyddydau’n arf pwerus ar gyfer ymgysylltu a sgwrsio, a dyna pam mae popeth a grëwn yn cael ei ystyried ac yn cynrychioli profiad y claf ar ei ffurf fwyaf gwir; gyda hiwmor, tosturi ac empathi. Mae gennym athroniaeth ‘Dyletswydd Gofal dros Bawb’ sydd wrth wraidd ein holl waith ac sy’n gallu sicrhau cyfrinachedd. Dewch i’n gwefan: http://www.fourinfour.co.uk
It’s been a privilege getting to know these wonderful people and a true honour having an insight into their world and their individual lives. What amazes me is the sheer tenacity and strength each of them have. Throughout the project it felt like we were all our own superhero formulating an unbreakable collaborative squad, and through open conversation and shared experience it proves that regardless of experience, anyone can be a storyteller in their own right.
This exhibition is so powerful and impactful and I’m truly moved by all of their work. It’s exciting to see where the conversation goes from here.
Tamsin