Murmur
Organ Donation Artwork at Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset
Starling murmurations are one of nature’s most transfixing displays, thousands of birds flying together in perfect harmony. Each bird is small on its own, but together they fill Somerset’s winter skies. Organ donation carries the same spirit. When people come together and add their voices, a murmur of support grows louder. Each decision strengthens the whole, creating more chances for lives to be saved.
the Artwork
The piece is made up of three large lightboxes, each filled with thousands of individual shapes representing starlings. Some feel close, others more distant, creating a sense of depth across the panels. In the central lightbox, the birds come together to form a heart, a symbol of love and generosity that reflects the selfless act of organ donation.
The artwork also creates a memorial space for donor families, and is dedicated to those who have given so much. Placed along the Jubilee corridor, close to a new entrance to the hospital, it is intended to catch people’s attention and create a moment to pause and reflect. A short description sits on the central lightbox, alongside a QR code linking directly to the organ donor register, making it easy for people to record their decision.
The Concept
I was drawn to starling murmurations as a concept for the piece, but had only ever seen them on video. Creating this artwork pushed me to go and experience one for myself. Watching a murmuration unfold for the first time was something else entirely, starting with a few birds, gradually joined by more, until there are thousands moving together in perfect harmony.
The movement is unlike anything else, almost like waves shifting in every direction, constantly forming and reforming. It is completely mesmerising. Seeing it in person made it clear that if I wanted to capture even a small part of that feeling, I would need to learn how to programme the lighting myself.
The Lighting
The lighting is a key part of the work and gives it a sense of movement. While these colours are not visible during murmurations, starlings have vibrant tones within their feathers, orange on their wings and iridescent pinks, purples and blues across their bodies.
The lighting has been programmed to move slowly through these colours. Rather than shifting in a single direction, it gently pulses in different areas of the panels, creating a more natural and less predictable flow. The aim was to echo the shifting, absorbing quality of a murmuration and create something that feels alive.
Why it Matters
Thousands of people have added their names to the organ donor register, which is an incredible thing. In reality, most will never die in the very specific circumstances required for donation to be possible. Even with the opt-out system now in place, families still need to be consulted at a difficult moment, and those conversations shape what happens next.
That is why this matters. Talking about organ donation, making intentions clear, and sharing those decisions with the people closest to us all play a part. This artwork is a way of holding that space. It recognises generosity, encourages reflection, and quietly reminds us that while one decision might feel small, together they can become something much bigger.
With Thanks
Thank you to the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Organ Donation Committee and to Lisa Harty from Art For Life for funding and supporting this artwork, and for making the process run so smoothly.
Most importantly, thank you to all donors and donor families in Somerset, whose generosity makes this work possible.
Feedback
“Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s art and design team, Art for Life, have had the privilege of managing an arts commission on behalf of our Trust’s Organ Donation Committee. Working with Harry van de Bospoort from Hospital Art Studio, who were selected to design and create the organ donation memorial artwork, has been an extremely positive experience. Harry’s creativity shone through throughout the design development, and we are delighted with the final artwork. On a practical level Harry has been highly professional and easy to communicate with, a complete pleasure to work with, thank you Harry”.
Lisa Harty, Art & Design Manager, Art for Life, Capital Projects, SFT.