Created by artists Març Rabal and Guim Tió, the artworks transform the Day Hospital and the inpatient ward located on staircase 6, floor 2, into more welcoming and human-centred environments, contributing to the emotional wellbeing of patients, families and healthcare professionals.
The initiative is part of the collaboration between both institutions, which share a commitment to bringing art into healthcare settings and placing it at the service of people. Through this partnership, Clínic continues to advance the integration of culture as a tool for wellbeing and the humanisation of healthcare environments.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Dr Josep M. Campistol, Chief Executive Officer of Hospital Clínic Barcelona; Dr Montserrat Viladomiu, Vice-President of the Vila Casas Foundation; Dr Aleix Prat, Director of ICAMS and the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre; Mr Ferran Calvet, Exhibition Coordinator of the Foundation's Health Area; Ms Saray Alen, Chief Nursing Officer at Clínic; Ms Ariadna Domènech, Head of Nursing at ICAMS; and artists Març Rabal and Guim Tió.
Art as a tool for wellbeing in healthcare settings
The Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute (ICAMS), within the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre, is a leading centre for the care of people with oncological and haematological diseases. In this context, it promotes a vision of healthcare that goes beyond clinical treatment alone, incorporating initiatives aimed at improving the experience of patients and healthcare professionals.
Several international studies have shown that the presence of art in healthcare environments can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve the perception of physical spaces and promote emotional wellbeing. For this reason, the Arts in Health Programme, led by the Corporate Social Responsibility Area, works to integrate visual arts, music, performing arts and participatory projects across different areas of the hospital.
Works by Març Rabal and Guim Tió arrive at ICAMS
The new interventions were created by artists Març Rabal and Guim Tió, two prominent figures in contemporary Catalan art whose visual languages are distinctive yet complementary.
At the Day Hospital, Març Rabal presents Inhabited Margins, a proposal that invites contemplation and connection with nature and emotional landscapes. His work is characterised by a strong sensitivity to colour and by the creation of evocative visual universes that can foster moments of pause and reflection in healthcare settings often marked by emotional intensity.
Meanwhile, Guim Tió has created Shared Horizons for ward 6.2, a work distinguished by the expressive strength of its figures and its symbolic reinterpretation of contemporary portraiture. His practice explores concepts such as identity, transformation and resilience, offering a visual experience that encourages active observation and dialogue with the surrounding space.
Both interventions were specifically conceived for the areas in which they are displayed, with the aim of creating environments that are more welcoming, stimulating and responsive to the emotional needs of the people who use them every day.
Assessing the impact of art on health
These new interventions are part of an evaluation initiative promoted by the Arts in Health Programme to better understand the impact of art in healthcare environments. Through surveys conducted before and after the interventions, aspects related to spatial perception, emotional wellbeing and the experience of patients and professionals are being analysed.
This initiative reinforces Clínic's commitment to an evidence-based approach aimed at generating knowledge about the contribution of the arts to health and wellbeing, while also providing tools to guide future actions focused on the humanisation of healthcare spaces.
Looking ahead
With these new interventions, the Arts in Health Programme further strengthens the integration of art and culture into healthcare environments, helping advance a more human-centred model of care. The initiative complements other recent actions in this field, including the opening of the Antoni Vila Casas Room in July, an exhibition space inaugurated with a selection of works by Agustí Puig. The space broadens the presence of art within the hospital and reinforces its role as a tool for wellbeing and support.
