The centre piece of the new Auburn Hospital is the art work of the main centre stair case. 

The Universal Journey

Artist: Bronwyn Bancroft

Medium: Digiglass^©

^{This work was produced from a half scale (10 meters long)  image painted in acrylic paints on paper by Bronwyn Bancroft.}

Bronwyn Bancroft is a Djanbun Clan member of the Bundjalung Nation (NSW) Bronwyn has participated in over 200 Exhibitions and has consistently provided work for Commission in Education, Health and other areas relating to Humanity, especially for Aboriginal initiatives and government departments. Bancroft was recognized as an Australian Living Treasure and was awarded the Centenary Medal of Australia. Bancroft lived  in Canberra and did her first degree at the Canberra School of Art. Bancroft is currently studying for her Doctorate at University of Western Sydney. 

Title “The Universal Journey” the work reflects the local community support for a friendly environment that values the shared values in its rich cultural diversity.

The Universal Journey was painted in half of the scale: 10 x 0.6 meters and then it was enlarged and produced into Digiglass, for the main stairwell of the new hospital.

The work shows the journey of every human, independent of cultural differences, and its connection to nature. Bancroft reflects about her work for Auburn Hospital with a poem:

 “Live to Love

  Love to Live

  Live and Love

  Life is a rich Tapestry

  Interwoven as complex as our DNA

  Light and Dark

  Day and Night”

Each of the 5 levels in the hospital reflect the Universal Journey and connects with the services provided in the level. Level 3, for example is about the Sun and Water. “The water gives Life and the Sun gives warmth”. The work continues to provide a beautiful metaphor for our lives. “The Moon and beginning of Universe gives us night and our days”.

The work finishes on the fifth floor with a show of “starry starry night heaven”.

The work was commissioned and produced by Health and Arts Research Centre Inc who prepared an Arts and Cultural Plan, “Tapestry” for the new hospital. The plan involved over 350 staff, patients, visitors and local residents. The participants felt that the arts in the new hospital should speak about our commonalities and celebrate our diversity.

Marily Cintra 2008

For further information contact Marily Cintra

For further information on Bronwyn Bancroft's art go here

More about Auburn Arts Program....