cane hill project | art by patients
Last update: 23|09|03
Cane Hill Project
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John Adamson was the expert on art therapy, working hard at his Surrey asylum for over 20 years. Unfortunately
for the patients of Cane Hill, Adamson was based at Netherne,
but that didn’t stop them cranking out a huge amount of artwork.
The drawings are still in the art therapy room and the patients’ artwork can be found spilled upon the floor -
which is, in turn, spilling into the ground.
Let’s see a very brief sample of what can be found. (Gallery music please!!).
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airplane
This is a bold representation of an airplane - I can tell because someone has helpfully written “Airplane” on
the side.
Problems with perspective, form, and the whole general business of where the wings should be are overshadowed
by the complete loss of the tail section. Either the artist just continued onto the table, or in some
way, the missing section symbolised some form of anguish in the patient. Or they simply had two pieces of
paper.
Nightmare factor: 
(Not good for those about to travel).
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geometric
These are quite cool.
The geometric shapes and patterns almost conjure up the weird mason styled Cane Hill logo, with a bold
blue, orange, purple and yellow colour scheme. This shouldn’t work but it does.
The fairy face on the left is unexpectedly charming. Considering what’s coming next.
Nightmare factor:
(Suitable for primary school).
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noose and head
A bloody vampire head stares out from a gallows scene, the noose and rope already secured from the crossbeam.
Whoever painted this should be in a lunatic asylum - that is scary stuff.
I have to admit that this piece of work was saved. Mr B took it with him as a prime example of “cute painting
to scare art student girlfriend to death.”
Nightmare factor:
(I want my mummy).
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Picture by Warren
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birds
Well I assume they're birds, but they also look like some Inca Gods of some description.
Very two dimensional, a sparce scene.
Nightmare factor:
(Could get a job as a childrens' book illustrator).
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Picture by Warren
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virginia
Now, was this drawn by virginia or was the subject
virginia?
Whatever - but virginia does give me the creeps. A lot.
I've started to wake up screaming at night.
Nightmare factor:
(Shouldn't get a job as a childrens' book illustrator).
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