An industry renowned mosaic artist has chosen Laticrete UK’s “solid-as-they-come” products to make stunning new artwork commemorating the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
Carrie Reichardt’s unique mosaic-based design was unveiled at its new home at the Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield Hospitals in London on November 19 as part of the NHS70: Thanks for Everything exhibition.
Carrie, a self-titled “craftivist” of international acclaim who makes “ceramic tapestry” has incorporated hearts made by patients, families and staff into one of the pieces. Queen of Hearts Princess Diana, a frequent visitor to the Royal Brompton also features in the work.
The hearts used, were all made from clay with help from community arts teacher and Carrie’s friend Linda Griffiths during workshops in the hospitals. Carrie, who gets her tiles sent from Portugal refired them and included them in the central piece.
Praising Laticrete; Carrie, who lives in a mosaic-covered house in Chiswick, London said: “I used them because I had to guarantee it would last and that stuff is solid-as-it-comes resin”.
“It will be going outdoors in a hospital courtyard – I used what I knew to be the best quality product.”
It took Carrie around a month to complete the three panels, which incorporated vast amounts of research from the hospital archives. She added: “I was extremely proud and honoured to be able to make a piece. I think it’s really important – now more than ever that we are appreciative of the NHS because we could well lose it”.
“A lot of the imagery I have used shows people protesting over the years. I wanted to show we are thankful – the NHS is not a given, we’ve had to fight for it.”
Paying tribute to Laticretefor its support and sponsorship, Carrie said: “They have been fantastic. They are huge supporters of everything I have done.
“I met Steve Ball, Laticrete UK’s Commercial Director, at the British Association of Modern Mosaic conference in September. Laticrete has always been hugely supportive of creative mosaic artists.”
Karen Janody, curator at rb&h Arts, the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust’s dedicated arts team, said: “Carrie’s unique aesthetics and her passion for social heritage will make ‘NHS70: Thanks for Everything’ a perpetual emblem to the care provided by our staff – past, present and future – who are dedicated to caring for their patients. “It will be a thought-provoking artwork that patients, visitors and staff can appreciate time and again, still discovering new layers of history.”
