Onderhuids

The art of nursing

What do nurses actually do? And will there be enough “hands-on care” in the future? Is healthcare an endless commodity? The work of nurses is, in any case, not something that can be summed up in one simple term.

In "Onderhuids" (Under the Skin), artists and nurses collaborate to explore and push the boundaries of nursing work. The artists Nieke Koek, Aart Strootman, and Dana Dijkgraaf have created three works in partnership with nurses Inge Smits and Jessica Berkvens (Kempenhaghe), Monique van Huijgevoort (Archipel Zorggroep), and Elise Bot (De Wever). The artists have explored the contexts in which the nurses work and translated their experiences into visual, auditory, sculptural, and playful art pieces.

The three works from the "Onderhuids" exhibition are presented in and around a hand-crafted exact wooden replica of a sea container. The container represents the often invisible and continuous flow of essential goods and work that deserve more attention.

Visitors are encouraged to think about what nurses do, the impact of their often invisible work, and how this work contributes to the sustainability of healthcare system, now, and in the future.

Kempenhaeghe Kloostervelden

What does providing good care mean in an epilepsy residential care facility? Who or what ensures that the residents feel free, welcome, safe, and valued? Is it the nurses, the residential care workers, the people working in day activities, the farm animals, or the birds in the forest? Is it the landscape, the trees, or the fresh air? Or does everyone play their role within this, and is it the whole that provides care together?

Graphic designer Dana Dijkgraaf, nurses Inge Smits, Jessica Berkvens, and policy officer Anneke Rings collaborated on a co-creation project to formulate a visual response. Together, they sought out the stories within Kempenhaeghe. They spoke with residents and caregivers of the Epilepsy Residential Care Center. What makes the environment around Kempenhaeghe, called Kloostervelden, unique? What motivates the caregivers to work at Kempenhaeghe and dedicate themselves passionately to caring for others? During a workshop with residents of the Epilepsy Residential Care Center, they further explored these questions, gradually forming a more complete image.

Three pillars of Kempenhaeghe Epilepsy Residential Care Center

What began as an ode to the nurses has developed into a triptych depicting three pillars of Kempenhaeghe Epilepsy Residential Care Center: the resident, the caregiver, and the environment. Referencing the well-known concept in nursing — Rest, Cleanliness, and Regularity — each panel has its own set of three words. At the center is the caregiver, who works with passion, but who also faces work pressure and developments in the healthcare landscape that demand much from them. On the left flank are the residents, where increasing attention is given to personal growth and development, but where epilepsy and history are always present. On the right flank is the landscape of Kloostervelden. Together, they form the core of Kempenhaeghe Epilepsy Residential Care Center.