Who said taking your medicine can’t be fun?

A Fine Art student from Coventry University, and former psychiatric nurse, has created highly original sculptures that explore our relationship with medication.

Geraldine Dolores Louisa Bee, from Coventry, used her previous career as the inspiration for her ‘QDS’ project, creating sculptural pieces in bright candy colours that gives them a seductive, childlike quality – a metaphor for the seemingly ‘harmless’ quality of medication.

She was also influenced by the works of artists Yayoi Kusama, Claes Oldenburg, Ernesto Neto and Erwin Werm who all produce oversized sculptural pieces.

Using a wide range of materials, including plaster, polythene sheeting and balls, fishing wire, and acrylic paint, Geraldine aimed to engage with the viewer in a visual and physical way. Drawing on her personal experience she explores society’s dependency on a ‘quick fix’ solution for medical problems and our experiences of taking medication.

Geraldine said:

I first applied for a foundation art course in 1976 but chose instead to do my psychiatric nurse training. I feel very lucky to have had a career I loved but have also now been able to achieve my ambition of gaining my degree in fine art.

Through this project I wanted the audience to experience our connection to medicines as I see it and the reality of what this really means in our society.

She has previously exhibited at the Custard Factory in Birmingham and has sold pieces as part of ‘up-cycled furniture’ auction at the Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry.

Geraldine’s project will be on show as part of the School of Art and Design Degree Show in the art studio space in Graham Sutherland building, Gosford Street, Coventry. Entry is free and open to public from 2nd – 10th June 2012.

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