A project to free up the voice of nurses :
Does the nursing profession seem to you to be under-recognised and undervalued ?
The aim of this initiative is to take a fresh, artistic look at a scientific profession, by showing off the beauty of nurses from all walks of life through an exploratory body painting experiment.
In 2020, driven by a desire to free myself from the ambient oppression associated with the pandemic, I wanted to sublimate this particular moment in our lives by offering a rewarding artistic experience that would restore the rightful place of the ’individuals’ behind the white coat.
While nurses commit themselves with strength and passion to their mission, too many of them jump ship, exhausted by the working conditions…
Through make-up and personal accounts, I wanted to give them a voice and allow them to express themselves on their career paths, their career choices, their day-to-day commitment, their doubts and their motivation to play this role, so rich in meaning and so full of challenges, while taking care of themselves.
By creating a colourful space, I wanted to allow them to take some time to reflect more deeply on their relationship with care and the place of art in care.
These testimonials from leading nurses working in key sectors of the hospital world, as well as outside it, will be highlighted in the forthcoming book.
A project rooted in current events in Switzerland :
The federal popular initiative for « strong nursing care « was accepted by 61% of the votes cast by the people and the cantons on 28 November 2021. This is the first foundation - everything is still to be created. The aim of this law is to train more nurses and ensure that they stay in the profession in order to maintain the quality of care at its current level and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality care in the future. This will require working conditions that meet requirements, opportunities for professional development and adequate remuneration for care services.
In May 2023, the profession was honoured through «The Nursing Flames», an event created by the new Vaud cantonal nurse, a first in Switzerland, where four distinctions were awarded to nurses who, in their day-to-day work, display qualities that are emblematic of the profession.
Things are moving forward at a snail’s pace, so we need every initiative we can get to move the profession towards greater recognition.
Artistic approach and search for new profiles :
This « liberated nurses initiative » offers a transformative experience through the ephemeral art of make-up. I felt it was essential to promote self-esteem, confidence and well-being in a profession that is so complex and rich in meaning. A blossoming of the self through artistic expression, but also an invitation to question ourselves more deeply, our deepest aspirations and our relationship with the world.
In this project, which focuses on nurses, my ambition is to create a bridge between the world of art and the human dimension of care.
The theme chosen for the body painting is floral art, which allows the very essence of the carer to blossom. Through the chosen flower, they are invited to let themselves be guided by their own personal interpretation. Flowering to oneself, letting that forgotten part of oneself grow and blossom.
The photo session immortalises the final work to capture its essence : who am I ? why am I a carer ? what is the strength that drives me on ?
These are the questions that open the doors to a more colourful, more nuanced world, where the art of make-up meets the world of care…
If you are a nurse and these few words awaken in you the desire to express yourself on your career path and you wish to take part in the experience, profiles are still sought in the following sectors in particular : nurse student, nurse in adult emergencies, oncology, school medicine, general or specialised medicine, general or specialised surgery, operating theatre, home care, organ donation, dialysis and all specialised units ; please get in touch with us at the following address : freevoicesofnurses@gmail.com.
We look forward to meeting you and sharing our experience with you !
How will your support be used ?
Your invaluable support will enable us to publish a book in tribute to our carers.
The campaign will give us time to produce the next body paintings and to work with the photographers.
The testimonies of several carers still need to be collected and corrected, the layout of the book finalised and the book printed.
It’s important to me to produce a local book, with a certified eco-responsible printer. But working locally and ecologically comes at a price… That’s why we’re appealing to you and to your generosity so that this work of art can finally become a reality.
If, by any chance, more funds are raised than will be needed to complete the project, a charity will be honoured :
- the NGO Fair Future Foundation, founded by Alex Wettstein (Switzerland), which provides humanitarian medical, social and logistical assistance to Balinese children.
Finally, to give you an idea of what awaits you in the forthcoming book, here are a few extracts from the first feedbacks :
«During this time of sharing, I was able to surpass myself, to blossom.»
«It’s important to take care of yourself so that you can effectively take care of others. I think your initiative and your palette of colours are really heart-warming !»
«Art has its place in care, especially in psychiatry, because patients sometimes find it easier to express themselves through art. I think it’s a wonderful experience, another way of shining a light on nurses.»
«Everything about this moment was magical : a gentle, caring, luminous and serene approach. Finally, the make-up itself, the feel of the brushes on my skin, my scars that had been subjected to radiotherapy. Like a living painting that I didn’t see until the end.»
«I realise that in this profession, as in many others, there’s a tendency to take a back seat and not necessarily show off, I think we should be proud of what we achieve.»
«I think it’s a great initiative to put the nursing profession in the spotlight, especially by a nurse herself. People in this field often tend to forget themselves, because of the workload and pace that this profession imposes. So putting the spotlight back on what these carers do helps to remind them in turn that what they do is an art.»
«This initiative is remarkable ; it’s time to highlight the creativity in this magnificent profession.»
Are you curious ? Then take a look at the website www.freevoicesofnurses.ch to discover the first testimonials already collected !
You can also discover the portraits of these carers at a photo exhibition to be held at the Galerie du Prieuré in Pully from 23 to 29 October 2023.
The author’s final words :
«I’m keen to reveal all their beauty, experience and skills through an ephemeral make-up. A sketch right on the skin, a paradox of the immutable principle that nurses were, are and always will be there !
Taking care of yourself means taking better care of others. And because «doing» is no longer enough, «being» is the beginning of every true bond. We are living through major transitions, whether scientific, ecological or spiritual. This return to ourselves is necessary if we are to develop the great visions and collective challenges that await us all tomorrow.
Now is your chance to be part of this unique project. Support this crowdfunding and make sure you get your own copy of this moving collection of testimonies, which is sure to touch you as you bring these unique portraits to life.
On 21 September, the day this campaign goes live, I celebrate my 40th birthday! Contributing to this campaign is the best gift I could give myself for this new milestone ! So, in advance, a thousand thanks to you all !»
Stéphanie Jollien
