"Art should have the function of improving people's lives".
We share with you the interview with El Hematocrítico, the second artist selected to develop a graphic story for the concomitance of the Paediatric ICU.
Galician, artist, with a touch of humour in his work that brings out smiles. Miguel López, better known as The Hematocritic, is the second artist selected to design the graphic history of our concomitance in Tenerife, Paediatric ICU, which takes place at the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. How do you face the challenge of accompanying admitted patients through art? He tells us about it in this interview.
How do you face the challenge of creating and collaborating with Concomitentes?
With great joy, humility and pride that they thought of someone like me to do something like this. I know it may seem crazy that an author, specialising in humour, is in charge of helping patients in a paediatric ICU, through art. But it makes a lot of sense, and I think it's lucky, I feel very lucky.
With what inspiration do you start this production?
One of the things I have in common with the people who make up this project - the nursing staff of the Paediatric ICU, Felipe and Andrés - is our ability to listen and empathise, to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. Therefore, I start with the same idea of listening. I have to listen, I have to learn, I have to perceive, and I have to feel. In our meetings, which we have had by videoconference and especially the face-to-face one, I have soaked in and enjoyed it very much.
«I also got emotional and my hair stood on end, I was sad, I felt all sorts of things. But, above all, I felt respect and admiration for what these professionals are doing, their human quality and the point of view they have on their profession. I wish there were more people like them».»
What can you tell us about what we will see in this graphic story?
My initial idea is to make an illustrated album, starring patients who share their point of view or what they see. We, as adults, may perceive some things, they certainly see others. So I'm going to try to address them, I think that's one thing I know how to do, with their own language, to explain to them what's in front of them.
What do you think of this Concomitentes proposal?
The proposal is spectacular, I think all the projects are wonderful, in particular, I feel a weakness and I am in love with the Pasatiempo de Betanzos, for me, one of the most wonderful places I have ever been. Last summer it was closed, it broke my heart into a thousand pieces.
«It is wonderful to discover that I am involved with people who have the need to do this, and people with great sensitivity, something that characterises the four Concomitentes projects».»
They are people who understand art as I do, as a way of expressing your own sensitivity. All the projects are amazing, it's a joy to be able to participate with them, I'm grateful and excited, eager to give the best I can give.
How do you see this collaborative art making?
It seems to me that art should have that function, as well as many others, to improve people's lives, not only aesthetically, but also conceptually, or to accompany them, as in the case of the work I am doing with them. That of taking the patient by the hand and saying ‘I have to explain something to you’. I find it incredible that an organisation like this exists, and that on top of that they remember me.
