As finalists for the second health-led art commission by Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Tessa Jowell Health Centre, Siân Bliss and collaborator Jenny Cox proposed an immersive artwork designed to transform the children’s waiting area within the health centre. Recognising that hospital environments can often feel sterile or anxiety-inducing — particularly for young patients — the duo set out to create a space that would feel warm, imaginative, and alive with colour. Drawing from nature and the sensory pleasures of the garden, their proposal sought to bring the outside in: foliage, creatures, playful forms, and a palette drawn from living things. It was an invitation to daydream, explore, and find ease — even in moments of uncertainty. The project was part of a broader initiative exploring the role of art in public health spaces, particularly in supporting wellbeing, curiosity, and emotional comfort.

Dulwich, London, UK.