Artists have created a ‘living’ tribute to organ donation at Airedale Hospital in West Yorkshire.
Seasonal Oak is a ‘Tree of Life’ installation embodying the spirit of organ donation.
Over time the artwork, designed by Hospital Art Studio, will evolve, with bright autumnal leaves in shades of red, orange, brown, and yellow, gradually making way for fresh green leaves.
And each green leaf bears a local donor’s name, symbolising renewal and the gift of life through organ and tissue donation.
Designed for longevity with high-quality materials, the artwork promises to captivate for years to come.
The base panel, constructed from aluminium composite bonded to resilient polycarbonate, serves as the canvas for a breath-taking display.
Delicate clouds, intricate branches, and an insightful explanation come to life on this foundation.
And the ‘Gift of Life’ text, and nearly 180 autumnal oak leaves, are permanently fixed to this panel to allow them to stand off and cast subtle shadows.
The installation was unveiled on 21 September during National Organ Donation Week.
Specialist organ donation nurses attended the official unveiling of the installation
The ceremony was led by the Airedale chaplaincy, Liz, and dedicated specialist organ donation nurses.
Eight organ donor families also attended, fixing a new green leaf with their loved ones’ name onto the artwork.
Alison Salisbury, mother to Felix, who passed away earlier this year and went on to donate his organs, said: “It was a tremendous privilege for us to attend the art installation at Airedale.
“To be present with other families who have experienced similar bereavement and the process of organ donation gave us a feeling of collective pride.
“It was incredibly emotional to hear Felix’s name read out and to add the green leaf that held his name to the memorial.
“For Felix to be remembered for his gift of life on a permanent memorial is something very precious.”
Rachel Wiseman, specialist organ donation nurse, added: “The team at Hospital Art Studio has been brilliant in guiding us through our journey to design a lasting memorial for our organ donors and their families, and we are absolutely delighted with the final result.
“It was a huge privilege to be able to invite families to attend the opening of this beautiful seasonal oak memorial and for them to add the green leaves with their loved one’s names on.
“It was clear to see the sense of pride this gave them, and we hope it will encourage others to join the organ donor register.”
Eight families whose relatives have donated organs were invited to the unveiling, affixing leaves to the tree bearing the names of their family members