Kuressaare hospital opens Anne Olop art exhibition

Kuressaare Hospital has opened an exhibition by Saaremaa artist Anne Olop in the corridor of its outpatient clinic, ERR reported.

The clinic corridor has hosted 15 exhibitions over the past seven years. Hundreds of people pass through it each day while waiting to see a doctor.

“I think this is one form of therapy,” exhibition organiser Virge Nemvalts said. “People who come to hospital generally arrive with worries, not for pleasure. If they can ease those worries with enjoyable pictures that take their thoughts away from their illness, it certainly has a positive effect, because happy people recover faster.”

Nemvalts said works with a positive message were particularly suitable for hospital spaces.

Olop said she was surprised by the interest in the exhibition while the works were being installed. “So many people looked at them, asked questions and wanted to know what this place was. It was very nice,” she said.

The exhibition also allows the paintings to reach a larger audience than they would in an art gallery in Kuressaare. Some of the works may remain at the hospital permanently.

“The hospital has generally bought at least one painting from each exhibition, and it stays here permanently. So, little by little, the hospital is filling with art, and we are happy about that,” Nemvalts said.