Art at the heart of new Kirwan Health Campus building

Each of the more than 40 pieces of art hanging on the walls at the recently opened Kirwan Health Campus maternity and oral health care building has a connection to the north Queensland region including award-winning Palm Island painter Agnes Wotton’s Waratah Flowers.

The painting is on the ground level at maternity services and Ms Wotton said the flowers symbolise a woman’s story.

“Thousands of years ago the waratah flower was white and it turned red after a female dove went looking for her partner who had went hunting for food,” Ms Wotton said.

“While she was searching for her partner she was attacked by a bigger bird and bled out on the flower, forever turning it red.

“The flower is a symbol of the sacrifice women make, especially for the ones they love.

“There are also butterflies throughout the painting which represent new life as well as a woman’s transformation into motherhood.”

Ms Wotton has sold more than 130 pieces of artwork across Australia and said she was proud to have some of them on display across the health service.

“When I was about 18 years old I was at the old Townsville General Hospital and there was a painting which caught my eye and I said to myself that I would like to have one of artworks on display at the hospital one day,” she said.

“All these years later and I now have paintings at Townsville University Hospital and now the Kirwan Health Campus.

“It’s very special for me to see my artwork on display and at places of healing.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s arts in health lead Melissa Gebert had been responsible for sourcing the artwork.

She said it was great to be able to get artwork from artists like Ms Wotton.

“North Queensland is very spoilt for choice with artists and it was a difficult job selecting the artwork for this project,” Ms Gebert said.

“Artwork has a huge impact for patients as it helps to reduce stress, lower pain perception, and makes clinical spaces more welcoming.

“A lot of work went into creating and sourcing the artwork I am sure everyone will appreciate the stories and meanings behind them.”