Long Term, Long Term
‘Long Term, Long Term’ is a printed text only piece from a medical packages project of thirty- five called ‘Prescribed’. It is made up of sixteen separate individual, participant / contributor medication information leaflets with paper folding and print being used.
‘Prescribed’ uses medical ephemera, patients’ information along with their words, phrases and contributions. Bini Atkinson then became the conduit mixing the donated material with thread, base papers, inks and glues to cut, fold, stitch and print to infuse the outward expression of individuals health conditions and experiences that have been hidden and suppressed. She stitched, printed and folded their experiences into paper and card structures to interpret their experiences of long-term medical conditions.
As part of this project, all the patients/ participants/ contributors, who sent Bini their medical packages, letters and notes that they wanted to divulge about their condition or symptoms, were guaranteed confidentiality around themselves, their medication and their symptoms. Some asked for their medication not to be hidden.
‘Prescribed’ uses medical ephemera, patients’ information along with their words, phrases and contributions. Bini Atkinson then became the conduit mixing the donated material with thread, base papers, inks and glues to cut, fold, stitch and print to infuse the outward expression of individuals health conditions and experiences that have been hidden and suppressed. She stitched, printed and folded their experiences into paper and card structures to interpret their experiences of long-term medical conditions.
As part of this project, all the patients/ participants/ contributors, who sent Bini their medical packages, letters and notes that they wanted to divulge about their condition or symptoms, were guaranteed confidentiality around themselves, their medication and their symptoms. Some asked for their medication not to be hidden.
Image Description:
Exhibition photograph of ‘Long Term, Long Term’ on a white wall in White Column is a mixed media artwork and it is normally in the permanent collection of the Mental Health Museum, Wakefield. The work is a twenty-seven-centimetre square mixed media piece. The words ‘Long Term’ are printed in rich blood red ink on medical prescription information leaflets, reading horizontally left to right. Each letter is printed on a separate leaflet. The leaflet has been folded to obscure the letter, then opened to reveal it. The letters form a four-by-four grid, with a two-row repeat of the phrase ‘Long Term’. All the borders of the leaflets have been outlined and painted with the same red as the printed letters. Each individual leaflet have a square base with four triangle sides with the tips folded over. This gives the artwork its geometrical and three-dimensional look. To finish the work, it has been placed on a white piece of square paper and placed in a black box frame.
Audio Description:
Organisation:
The Mental Health Museum is home to an extraordinary collection of objects and stories that explore mental health care history and the experience of mental health conditions. It was first opened in 1974 and displayed objects from the West Riding Asylums at Wakefield, Huddersfield, Leeds and Sheffield. We continue to add to these collections today.
The museum is a space for broader debates around mental health care and aims to promote wellbeing, combat mental health stigma, and be active in social justice. We invite everyone to get involved in creating this space.
The Mental Health Museum is free to visit and open to everyone on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 1-4pm. Find us at Fieldhead Hospital, Wakefield, WF1 3SP. You can get in touch with staff by calling 01924 316360 or email us at museum@swyt.nhs.uk.
External Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biniatkinson/
MentalHealth Museum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhmwakefield/