Faith

Sculptor Joseph Hillier was commissioned to design and create a major feature Artwork for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Care Centre as part of the refurbishments in 2013. Faith is a stainless steel figure modelled at over twice life size and is made from hundreds of pieces of steel intricately fabricated together and weighing in at more than 530kg.

 "Entering a hospital for many people can be an anxious experience. I have often heard it said that people don't like hospital and the reasons seem obvious: the association with health problems and the fear of treatment.  However we do have a faith in medicine, which outweighs this reticence, allowing us to make the journey," he explains.

"My intention was to use my ability as a sculptor coupled with an innovative use of contemporary technology to make a figurative work, which transforms any sense of trepidation at our approach to a hospital into wonder and excitement.

"I want the work to present an image of a human body which overcomes the laws of physics, to become weightless, as in a dream. The piece creates an image of humanity, surpassing the bounds of possibility to create a sense of faith in the hospital, as a place where the human body is understood and can be successfully treated.

"It is no mistake these cut layers, look like the layers in a CT scan.  I have a long standing interest in this and other forms of medical imaging. After I modelled the piece in three dimensions the parts were cut from 4mm stainless steel sheet locally, with an experienced laser cutter who I have worked with extensively on numerous commissions. The work was then assembled like a complex three dimensional jigsaw and the parts welded together.

"The technique for this piece is an innovation I have been working on for the last two years and is an exciting new direction in my work, and I hope an apt and poignant installation for the QE Hospital in Gateshead."

Faith was commissioned by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in collaboration with Gateshead Council Public Art Team.