The latest art project to be found on the Tyne and Wear Metro at Tynemouth station is commemorating Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The art work is located in the station’s Bridge Gallery and features a connecting chain of lab coats to symbolise the role of researchers, and the key breakthroughs in children’s cancer research over recent decades.
Lynne Dickinson, Station Delivery Manager at Nexus, said: “Tynemouth Metro station is a renowned location for art projects through its bridge gallery. We are delighted to see that continue through this latest exhibition marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“The art work will be seen by many thousands of people who pass through the Metro station each and every week, and we hope they enjoy seeing it.
“Metro plays a really significant role in showcasing public art work through our Art on Transport Programme.”
The lab coats in the art work hang centrally in the exhibition space to represent the individual scientists, their teamwork, and the complex, precise nature of their groundbreaking research. Written across the sleeves are short quotes from the research team, sharing what matters most to them and their proudest achievements within their paediatric oncology careers.
The exhibit is titled “Kinder Treatments” and also has floating chandelier-like sculptures surrounding the coats, made from plastic waste saved from the Children’s Cancer North Research Laboratories at Newcastle University.
Abigail Hewison, Head of Charity for Children’s Cancer North, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the team at North Tyneside Art Studio again this year to help shed light on the important childhood cancer research taking place right here on our doorstep.
“As a charity, one of our main aims is to invest in revolutionary research, which we fund locally at Newcastle University, and it’s been wonderful to experience what often goes unseen behind closed doors be brought to life through this year’s installation.’’
The art work will be on display until Tuesday 13th October.