Orygen Mosaic Project for the soul and society

The Orygen Inpatient Unit Mosaic Project, designed by Penelope Richardson and elaborated by ceramic artist Ursula Dutkiewicz, with inpatients at Orygen was launched on 28th February 2007.

The two mosaics measure a total of approximately 3.2 metres wide by 1.2 metres high and cover two walls in the garden of the Orygen Inpatient Unit in Footscray, Melbourne, Australia.

The Mosaic Project was an exciting creative activity designed envisaged as part of the  Orygen Health Arts Program specifically for short-term residents of the Orygen Inpatient Unit.

After consultation with the young people on the ward, artist, Penelope Richardson created the cartoon for the mosaic utilising a graphic language which hinted towards the multi-cultural backgrounds of the patients – indigeneous Australian, Vietnamese, Chinese, European – which became a large scale 2 panel design for the courtyard on the Inpatient Unit. Based on this design, Peer Support Workers worked with ceramic artist, Ursula Dutkiewicz, to learn how to make and decorate tiles. Together with inpatients they used the cartoon design to complete the mosaic over a period of months as ongoing activity at the Unit.

The aim of the mosaic project is to promote ways for young people to maintain good mental health and decrease boredom for long term clients on the unit, as well as to enhance the environment for everyone who works there.

All the tiles were hand shaped and painted by the patients. They were then fired and assembled offsite, before being installed in the garden.

Project funded by Arts Victoria.