Artist Lola García Garrido, who suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus, has transformed her hospital experience into an art exhibition. The show, on display at the Arquitecto Marcide Hospital in Ferrol for the next month, originated during a hospitalization period marked by constant tests and medication, where creation became a way to "observe, resist, and give meaning to the experience."
Inspired by the "Heroínas" (Heroines) catalog from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which reframes the narrative of women in art, García Garrido began photographing reproductions of artworks and combining them with images from the hospital environment. The result is 16 works, each 80x60 cm, exhibited at the Ferrol center.
“"From the hospital bed, this work was only possible because I was cared for not only by my loved ones, but also by public healthcare."
The exhibition aims to "give visibility to the pathology" and "navigate admission through art," as well as express gratitude to public healthcare. García Garrido notes that one's perspective changes when creating from a place of vulnerability, and she sought to transform a difficult experience into something expressive.
The manager of the Ferrol Health Area, Fernanda López Crecente, and the deputy director of Humanization, Quality, and Citizen Care, Estrella López-Pardo, were present at the opening ceremony.
Individuals with Lupus in the Ferrol Health Area receive joint care from the Unit of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases of the Internal Medicine Service and the Rheumatology Service. This unit, established in 2012, is a pioneer in Galicia and manages the disease in a multidisciplinary manner, as it can affect various organs and tissues.
Lupus is a chronic condition with a prevalence of 0.21% in the adult population, more common in young women, though it can affect any age or gender. Its heterogeneous nature means each patient experiences different symptoms.
Lola García Garrido's work, also a candidate for Photoespaña in the digital section Descubrimientos, lies at the intersection of still and moving images, exploring themes of identity, the environment, and body representation. Her practice combines photography, photomontage, and digital experimentation.
