Celebrating 20 Years at Westmead

Adolescent Medicine Unit

About the photographer: Phil Bayly

Biography

Phil Bayly is a visual artist photographing and exhibiting his work for the last 30 years. The majority of his subject material is set in Mexico, Australia and Europe.

His work has been in a number of group shows which includes’25 Australian Photographers’ at the Sydney Opera House.

He played a key role in establishing Artists collectives and working with Aboriginal communities as an Art Educator in Far North Queensland.

Phil’s work is in a number of collections including Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki and Delegaçion de Polynesie Francaise - Paris.

He is currently based in Sydney working on his first book.

Creative Statement

The idea of documenting images from the Adolescent Medicine wing of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a few hours is a challenge to say the least but I accepted this opportunity with no hesitation.

It was an opportunity to share with others the emotional challenges that these young people are facing every day. They are teenagers who put on a brave face to live their life with their own personal problems, surrounded by people with a genuine passion to help each individual face their issues and, when possible, overcome them.

This was a warm and friendly place, full of colour, life, hope and care.