Artwork brings comfort and wonder to children at the Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct
Stunning new artwork inspired by the unique beauty of the Australian environment will lift the spirits of children in the redeveloped Emergency Department (ED) at Liverpool Hospital and provide a sense of calm and sanctuary.
Unveiled this month, the artwork by Tokyo and Sydney-based contemporary visual artist Kevser Ugurlu has created a vibrant healing space where children can feel protected, safe, and distracted through wonder.
The ‘Boundless Horizons’ artwork was created through water colour and gouache on paper and is split into sections in the ED paediatrics space.
“Knowing that a hospital setting can often trigger anxiety and fear in young minds, I wanted this artwork to serve as a comforting distraction during their stay,’’ Kevser said.
“By shaping the design around a massive, welcoming arch - reminiscent of a rainbow, a rolling hill, or a protective canopy - the mural instantly transforms the space, encouraging children to look at the walls and feel safe, calm, and full of wonder.
“The inspiration stems from the desire to create a haven rooted in themes of protection, belonging, and resilience, reminding anyone who looks at it that they are held in a secure, vibrant, and healing space.”
Kevser said children would naturally connect with organic shapes and familiar figures in the artwork.
“I aim to convey the profound connection between the creatures, the land they inhabit, and the stars above, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the very essence of these remarkable animals.’’
Kevser’s beautiful work also features in the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, delivered in the first Integrated Services Building, the centrepiece of the first phase of the hospital’s redevelopment.
Questions and Answers with Kevser Ugurlu
As an artist, my impression of this artwork is rooted in its power to transform a clinical, often high-stress environment into a place of comfort, storytelling, and wonder.
The choice of palette is incredibly intentional. By blending deep, grounding earth tones and midnight blues with uplifting greens and sunlit yellows, the mural brings the restorative essence of the natural world indoors.
In an Emergency Department (ED) where children and families are navigating anxiety, these colours offer an immediate sense of warmth and emotional relief.
The silhouettes of the bounding kangaroos and native animals add a beautiful sense of life and companionship. They give the space a rhythmic, dynamic energy, reminding the children that they are part of a wider, living journey.
This public art doesn't just decorate a wall - it holds the space, turning an anxious waiting period into a moment of calm exploration and safety.
The most direct inspiration comes from the unique and enduring beauty of the Australian environment. The goal was to give children a rich, detailed world they could visually get lost in, transforming their anxious waiting period into a moment of calm exploration and wonder- and this is heavily present in nature.
In each brushstroke and colour choice, I seek to capture the dynamic energy and fluidity of life itself.