An exhibition of newly created work inspired by patient's stories
20 August - Feb 2026
GSK Gallery, Addenbrooke's Hospital L2
Francisca Aninat (b. 1979) is a Chilean artist who, since December 2024, has been visiting some of our Oncology and Intensive Care waiting rooms. She has invited her collaborators to reminisce about their journey to the hospital, through map making, sculpture and drawing. These creative conversations aimed to connected the patient back to their life. Francisca has then returned to her studio to create artwork directly inspired by the stories, thoughts and journeys she was told.
The artworks Francisca has created are abstract. In them she weaves together words, objects, maps and memories into collages, where everything appears to be just held together: A trace of a moment in time.
Some of the collages contain poems, which are composed of various quotes from patients. The words hint at intimate moments of person’s life. They are not full narratives, but they do slowly reveal meaning. And the images and materials selected also hold significance. A fragment of a tree references the various visions of leaves patients remembered. A rope becomes a symbol of something that ties and holds together something precarious and vulnerable. The use of copper was inspired by the frequent mention of the colour ‘burnt orange’. Each collage strives to hold a little bit of each of Francisca’s collaborators. The exhibition hopes to capture something of the intangible feelings and thoughts we can all have while we’ve been waiting.
Francisca is also exhibiting work inspired by her time at Addenbrooke’s as part of a two-person show with Alexandre da Cunha called Revealing (In)visible Times at Heong Gallery at Downing College, Cambridge (11 September - 19 October 2025).
Francisca Aninat
Francisca Aninat (1979, Chile) lives and works in London. Using a variety of different materials, her interest lies in generating a connection between artistic processes and the narratives of everyday life. Her work is part of the Cisneros Fontanals Foundation, FEMSA collection, Museum of Contemporary Art Chile, MOMA, David Roberts Art Foundation, among others.
Recent projects include the 4th Polygraphic Triennial of San Juan, Latin America and the Caribbean, the 22nd Paiz Biennial and the Casa Wabi Foundation in Mexico. She has recently published with Editorial Ikrek, Ediciones Tácitas, D21 Editores and Letras Libres magazine.