To support the NHS during the initial wave of Covid in UK, Modern Forms, in collaboration with artist Shezad Dawood and arts charity Vital Arts, launched #100NHSRooms. The initiative sourced 100 new art works, generously donated by artists, to furnish 100 staff rooms across the five East London hospitals run by Barts Health NHS Trust
Dr. Ian Basnett, Public Health Director at Barts Health NHS Trust, said of the project: “Art allows our minds to travel to different places, which is particularly important during stressful times. Our staff have been fantastic during this pandemic, and they will appreciate that this charitable initiative has been able to secure artwork for so many staff rooms where they will find rest and respite.” Hussam Otaibi, Modern Forms’ founder, commented: “This is a fantastic cause and one that I’m proud we at Modern Forms could help bring to fruition. I started Modern Forms because I wanted to support something I love and because I believe in the restorative power that art can bring to people. In these uncertain times the influence of creativity to keep us engaged and reinventing the world is more important than ever.” Donating artists include: Mania Akbari & Douglas White; Charles Avery; Shiraz Bayjoo; Rana Begum; Victor Burgin; Matthew Burrows; Oliver Chanarin; Jake and Dinos Chapman; Shezad Dawood; Jeremy Deller & Fraser Muggeridge; Eloise Fornieles; Gaia Fugazza; Margarita Gluzberg; Anne Hardy; Diango Hernández; Henry Hudson; Harminder Singh Judge; Peter Liversidge; Lakwena Maciver; Marta Marcé; Haroon Mirza; Annie Morris; Yelena Popova; Yinka Shonibare; Shaan Syed; Conrad Shawcross; Grantchester Pottery; Barbara Walker; Mark Wallinger; and Catherine Yass.
