British Outsider Art
7 July - 3 November 2012
Bethlem Archives and Museum
Bethlem Royal Hospital, located in Monks Orchard Estate on the Beckenham/Croydon border of South London, provides mental health services throughout Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon. The hospital’s grounds are home to a small museum currently showing British Outsider Art; an exhibition exploring a selection of ‘Outsider’ works from the hospital’s collection. The works on display include pieces by prolific Outsider Artists Madge Gill, Scottie Wilson and Von Stropp, plus a whole wall dedicated to the poetry and art of ex-Bethlem patient Elise Warriner.
Predominantly focusing on the history of psychiatry in Britain, the museum’s art collection, and British Outsider Art more specifically, act as an educational tool to show how the production of art by patients has run parallel to the development of psychiatric services.
Very much a reflection of their time at Bethlem, many of the works act as supporting material for the biographical information supplied about the artist. Fitting, it would seem, for a museum within the grounds of a still-functioning hospital. The exhibition certainly enables easy engagement for those who have perhaps not had any prior contact with Outsider Art whilst acting as a key resource to support the idea of creativity as a therapeutic outlet with regards to mental health.
Predominantly focusing on the history of psychiatry in Britain, the museum’s art collection, and British Outsider Art more specifically, act as an educational tool to show how the production of art by patients has run parallel to the development of psychiatric services.
Very much a reflection of their time at Bethlem, many of the works act as supporting material for the biographical information supplied about the artist. Fitting, it would seem, for a museum within the grounds of a still-functioning hospital. The exhibition certainly enables easy engagement for those who have perhaps not had any prior contact with Outsider Art whilst acting as a key resource to support the idea of creativity as a therapeutic outlet with regards to mental health.