To add elegant touches to traditionally sterile environments, art has been incorporated into healthcare spaces. Something as simple as a landscape painting hanging in the exam room of a physician or dentist’s office adds a little extra warmth.
Studies on art in healthcare settings have demonstrated that nature art is a stress-reducing positive distraction, and it has the same function in behavioral healthcare. For example, in his study on psychiatric ward design and the reduc- tion of aggressive behavior (2012), Roger Ulrich noted that representational nature art is a more appropriate choice for psychiatric wards than abstract art as it is less difficult for individuals to visually process.
As with all settings, the selection of nature art should respect the context and culture of the organization and its communities. There is no one-size-fits all approach or solution to the development of art programs for behavioral health environ- ments. But through research and commu- nication, it is possible to select artwork that will contribute to an environment in which the safety and dignity of patients are ensured.
