Out of passion for art and to honour his place of work, leading St John of God Murdoch Hospital Orthopaedic Surgeon Piers Yates has created a Crucifix and gifted it to the hospital. The crucifix is made from welded recycled metal tools, equipment and implants used in orthopaedic surgery.
Professor Yates, who specialises in hip, knee replacement, revision arthroplasty, resurfacing of the hip, noncompartmental knee replacement and trauma surgery, as well as accelerated rehabilitation and ‘bloodless surgery’ regards this project as his first public showing of artwork. Prof Yates’ brother, Jolyon Yates, is a well-established illustrator and cartoonist in the US, creating comics such as Ninjago for LEGO – however, the Prof is at the very beginning of his art journey.
Describing his vision for the crucifix, Prof Yates said he wanted to use the disposed implants and instruments that he collected over 20 years, and eventually figured out the best way to create a visually stunning and meaningful statement piece for display.
“The first artwork I created using these materials, was a three-metre-long dragon. That proved I could do it. Since then, I have made them as birthday gifts for nurses, one for the orthopaedic ward, and another for my private rooms.”
The crucifix, proudly displayed outside the chapel at the entrance of St John of God Murdoch Hospital, adds to the diverse range of artwork that is found at the hospital.
St John of God Murdoch Hospital Chief Executive Officer Ben Edwards spoke about the first time he discovered his colleague had been creating sculpture and wanted to display them at the hospital. “Prof Yates wanted to create something specific for the hospital, and a crucifix seemed perfect, capturing the nexus between the hospital’s Catholic heritage and its medical context in three-dimensional form.”
Mr Edwards says it has replaced a more traditional crucifix. “My hope is someone who wouldn’t stop and look before, will stop and look and see how interesting it is, and perhaps explore the chapel, which would be a wonderful thing. I think the work is confronting, particularly if you look at it up close, and personally, I think the best art is the stuff which intrigues you and forces you to think.”
Mr Edwards says patients recover faster with art around them, and staff are happier. “Art in hospitals is very important from this point of view. Every day I see people stop and look at the artworks we have here. I often think these people may be on their way to somewhere where they are nervous about what is going to happen to them, and art is a great distractions and engagement for them.”
Meanwhile, word of Prof Yates creative output has spread among hospital staff. “People are giving me more and more raw materials from the operating theatres,” says Yates.
“I think I’ll continue to make more.”