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PPE Sculpture Honors Pandemic Heroes
22 Mar
Summary
- Sculpture made from recycled PPE unveiled at hospital.
- Artwork titled 'The Nurse's Hands' honors healthcare workers.
- Piece created by artist Kurt Jackson at Royal Cornwall Hospital.
A sculpture crafted entirely from recycled personal protective equipment (PPE) has been erected at Royal Cornwall Hospital. Unveiled to commemorate six years since the first COVID-19 lockdown, the artwork is named 'The Nurse's Hands.' It features cupped hands clad in surgical gloves, designed by artist Kurt Jackson.
The piece stands in the Critical Care Healing Garden, serving as a tribute to caregivers and those lost during the pandemic. Jackson utilized PPE collected and recycled on-site, inspired by the hospital's sustainability efforts. The sculpture's presence aims to deeply resonate with hospital staff.
Kurt Jackson explained his inspiration stemmed from the challenges in sourcing PPE and his past work focusing on the skillful hands of medical professionals. He wanted to create a symbol of the care and dedication exhibited by doctors and nurses.
Intensive care worker Dr. Joe Parker noted the sculpture powerfully reflects the prolonged and difficult experiences of wearing PPE. He emphasized how it encapsulates the essential role PPE played in everyone's lives throughout the pandemic.
This new artwork joins other sculptures by Jackson in the garden. The project was supported by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity and veteran explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison. Jackson has a history of gifting art to various hospital units, bringing comfort and beauty to staff and patients.
