The Exhibition at Flinders Medical Centre “Theatre Works” by South Australian Artist Avril Thomas
In 2009 Avril Thomas worked as artist-in-residence in Operating Theatres, Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia. The aim of the project was to capture portraits of a variety of staff members and to provide a rare glimpse inside an operating theatre through the eyes of an artist. The artwork profiles staff at work, highlighting the technical skill, concentration and precision involved in a surgical operation. 10 surgeons and staff took part.
The residency culminated in a 42-piece collection exhibited at Centre Promenade Gallery A – Arts in Health at Flinders Medical.
See ABC Stateline TV segment on this “Theatre Works” exhibition held at Flinders Medical Centre
Exhibition “Theatre Works” opened at Flinders Medical Centre by John Hill – Minister assisting the Premier in the Arts
SEE ABC Stateline video about the show NOW
“Theatre Works” by Avril Thomas. The Collection
These paintings and drawings are now available as prints globally via Redbubble. Get an affordable print from this collection today
Why was this series of medical staff at work created?
Arts, visual, theatrical or musical can transport you, remove you, even
for a moment. How necessary this can be in a hospital situation, where
people are dealing with such a huge range of emotions and sometimes
life’s challenges.
This project is a little different.
Theatre staff are hidden, working behind
closed doors. This exhibition is to celebrate the dedication and hard work
of the folk who work in theatre. As a former nurse, this project was
perfect for me.
This exhibition is about teamwork, so I to need to thank the team who
participated with and embraced this artist’s residency here at Flinders
Medical Centre.
In particular, the girls in Arts in Health… Sally, Francis, Laura and Louise, who
work hard and all hours to bring arts in all its forms into this hospital.
A special thanks to… Lea West, Theatre Unit Manager,
The wonderful people who work in theatre, who allowed me back into
their world.
Surgeons…
Mathew McDonald Neuro and Spinal Surgery,
Phil Griffin Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Rob Padbury Liver Transplant Unit
Jay Mcgavigan Obstetrics
Rudy Jaasmar Trauma and Orthopaedics
Robert Foreman Vascular Surgery
John Freeman Paediatrics
David Wattchow Gastro Intestinal Surgery
Justin Bessell General & Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon and
Sam Barnett Ear Nose and Throat surgery
and all the staff involved with their cases, and of course the patients allowing
me into theatre at such a vulnerable time.
Observation by John Hill – Minister assisting the Premier in the Arts
“As Artist-in-Residence. Operating Theatres, Flinders Medical Centre Avril Thomas has sympathetically documented the intense world of the operating theatre. In small portrait sketches, group paintings and in large-scale, bird’s-eye views. Avril portrays the expertise, teamwork and humanity of surgical teams at Flinders. While staff members are represented as recognisable portraits. Avril respects patient anonymity. That patients are at the heart of everyone’s concern, however, is expressed through the group compositions, the artist’s traditional use of restricted palette to create a sense of calm and seriousness and the complementary descriptive titles of many works.
This is an impressive and inspiring body of work, and I congratulate Avril and everyone at Flinders Medical Centre, who helped to make her residency a success” John Hill – Minister assisting the Premier in the Arts
“I believe the concept of an Artist -in- Residence in Operating Theatres is quite to unique to Australia and thanks to Sally Francis and Arts in Heath at FMC we were given this opportunity at Flinders Medical Centre. Theatre staff work behind closed doors and generally most people are unaware of the care they give to patients. Probably only someone who has worked in the Operating Theatre would be able to identify the focus and dedication with which patients are cared for during this most vulnerable of times. Avril has both this background, and also considerable skill as an artist, and the outcome is a set of work that both recognises and highlights this exceptional care.
Works of art are intended not only to capture a scene, but to evoke emotion about the events recorded. In this series of paintings and sketches we see the essence of the Operating Theatres at the Flinders Medical Centre. This essence is teamwork and camaraderie. We also see her the strong element of humanity coming through an obviously technical and sterile environment. Staff personalities are evident from behind the basks and gowns.
It has been a pleasure to be involved in this project and to experience the positive effects on all staff when they see their hard work acknowledged and celebrated publicly in this way.
Thank you, Avril and Sally, for making this happen for us.”
Lea West and David Wattchow – Operating Theatres, Flinders Medical Centre.
About Adelaide Artist Avril Thomas
Avril Thomas, born in Malaysia, has enjoyed a lifetime of drawing and until 1996 it was essentially
a private pursuit. Whilst living in Queensland Avril’s talent was recognised and was asked to teach.
On returning to South Australia, she has participated in many joint and solo exhibitions. Avril is now
a full-time practicing artist. Her main centre of attention is portraiture in charcoal, graphite pastel
and oil. With a resumé of over 80 private commissions, all with a tonal realist style, Avril’s works
can be found Hong Kong, U.S.A. as well as round Australia. Career highlights have been: Entering
the 2004 Archibald Prize with a portrait of Prof. Michael Tyler. The portrait of Alexander Downer,
for the 2005 Archibald Prize, made Avril a finalist. Commissioned by the National Portrait Galler y
to paint Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, Governor of South Australia. Commissioned by
Flinders University to paint Vice Chancellor Anne Edwards.
Avril Thomas is an Australian portrait, Artist. Her studio and gallery is now at Magpie Springs in the Fleurieu Peninsula / Adelaide Hills. South of Adelaide
