Idle Hands

Idle Hands, derived from the quote ‘The Devil makes work for Idle Hands’, highlights the disparity between Moral Therapy’s ideals and beliefs and its use in treatment practices at the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Based on research conducted into the Mental Health Museum Wakefield’s collection, this artwork builds on themes established in Blood, Sweat, and Tears concerning occupations within the Asylum and its connection to modern occupational therapy.

The artwork utilizes crochet, knitting, sewing, and weaving, designed to highlight some of the occupations undertaken by patients. The work is presented as a blanket showcasing some of the item’s patients created but were not allowed to use, questioning the morality of moral therapy.

The photographs of the cup of tea and the glass of beer represent some of the luxuries given to entice patients to participate in their ascribed occupations, which raises questions over whether patients had creative freedom or were creatively controlled, and discussions around free labour. The continual monitoring of patients by attendants and doctors as the ‘Medical Gaze’ is symbolised by the embroidered eyes within the piece. The surnames of patients and a self-portrait have been discreetly stitched into the blanket representative of personal stories being invisible.