Title of artwork: The Balloon Tree
Artist: Róisín de Buitléar
Year: 2018-2021
Commissioner: Children’s Health Ireland (CHI)
Funder: Department of Health
Location: Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Connolly and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Tallaght
Art plays a pivotal role in St James’s children hospital in Dublin. Central to the welcoming experience are two stunning steel sculptures.
The Balloon Tree artworks, created by artist Róisín de Buitléar, stand as a testament to the power of art in enhancing the healthcare experience. These playful and colourful installations are more than mere decorations. Their location, in the atria of the Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and the Tallaght Hospital, was specifically chosen to greet and comfort visitors and patients, and for providing joy and distraction from the clinical setting.
The children’s hospital on the grounds of St James’s Hospital is an impressive healthcare development in terms of scale and pediatric care. It integrates three children’s hospitals – Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, and the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght Hospital – and includes two additional facilities at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and Tallaght Hospital.
Inspiration
The Balloon Tree installations were specifically designed by visual artist Róisín de Buitléar for the main entrances of these two centres. Built by similar methods, yet different in shape, both artworks were inspired by the whimsical quality of children’s drawings of trees.
The installation at the Connolly Hospital is round and plump, and its branches extend outwards, cradling balloons that seem to float within its structure. At the Tallaght Hospital the tree stands tall and conical with upward-reaching branches.
Vibrant and colourful glass balloons are nestled and caught in the tree branches while a few other balloons appear in unlikely places throughout the buildings, in corridors, stairwells, waiting rooms and procedure areas, adding an element of surprise and delight to the hospital environment.
The symbolism is clear; just as these centres take care of children and young people, the trees gather up and protect the ‘lost’ balloons.
Process
Róisín de Buitléar was inspired by the young people from the CHI Youth Advisory Council, whom she met during the research and development stage of the project. “In their wish list were the following ideas: an airy atmosphere while in hospital, something that would inspire you to escape the mundane, a feeling of optimism, of the outdoors, something that would surprise you, or something to make you smile. They specifically wanted something that would appeal to a child and teenager,” she said.
The creative process was divided into a design development stage, during which Róisín mitigated the risks associated with the proposed artwork; a fabrication stage; and an installation stage.
The research and development phase was funded by the Per Cent for Art Scheme. The Balloon Tree commission was funded by the National Children’s Hospital Tallaght Foundation
The trees are made from welded steel by Grogan’s Engineering in Dublin. The glass balloons were mouth-blown by Róisín at Benefield Spencer Studio Glass in Northern Ireland for Connolly and at Pierini Glass Studio in France for Tallaght. They were then finished at the artist’s studio in Dublin.
The fabrication of the balloons for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Connolly and the installation of the sculpture was documented in a short film by Morgan Creative. The film was shown to the children, young people and families waiting in the centre.
A shorter version of this film was released via social media.
Community collaboration
During the design development, the artist met with the parents, children and young people attending CHI Crumlin, CHI Temple Street and CHI Tallaght in play rooms and at their bedside. Róisín asked them to imagine where escaped balloons might go and to create a series of postcards inspired by their imagination.
About the artist
Róisín de Buitléar is a prominent visual artist and educator known for her work in glass. A graduate of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin (NCAD), she has completed many site-specific installations inspired by her cultural heritage. Her work is displayed in public and private buildings across Ireland, including the Blasket Island Centre, Dunchaoin, Co. Kerry; the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin; W5 Belfast, Northern Ireland; Ballyroan Public Library, Dublin; and the Basilica of Knock, Co. Mayo.
De Buitléar has taught in the Glass Department at the NCAD and internationally. Her blown, cast and architectural work has been featured in solo exhibitions and showcased in collections in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain, Japan, China and the US.