Fragments of Motifs in Nature, a captivating new exhibition by artist Rica Shimabukuro, has opened at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) to coincide with the launch of the Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing. The exhibition features the Limerick Triptych, a stunning three-panel artwork showcasing local scenes from Limerick. Meticulously crafted by hand, this intricate piece was created using a delicate papercutting technique. On view on the corridor leading to the Outpatients Department at UHW, the exhibition runs until 11 April 2025. The exhibition programme at UHW is part of the Waterford Healing Arts programme, which is managed by Réalta, the national resource organisation for arts + health in Ireland.
Rica Shimabukuro’s work is a reflection of her deep connection with nature. Drawing inspiration from her surroundings, she creates delicate and intricate artworks that evoke a sense of calm and contemplation. Through her use of colour, texture, and movement, Rica invites viewers to momentarily escape daily life and immerse themselves in a dreamlike world of wild birds, plants, and shifting landscapes.
Originally from Tokyo and now based in Sweden, Rica is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, textiles, fashion, jewellery, silk screen printing, and photography. Her artistic approach combines traditional techniques with modern interpretations, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between nature and human experience. Her works have been exhibited in various international spaces, reflecting her evolving journey as an artist.
Réalta is the national resource organisation dedicated to developing arts + health in Ireland. Through its national programme, Réalta delivers training; provides information, mentoring and advice; supports networking; engages with the HSE and other policy makers to increase understanding and support for arts + health; and provides the encyclopaedic national resource website artsandhealth.ie. At local level, Réalta delivers its extensive Waterford Healing Arts programme, which brings music, visual art, creative writing and storytelling to the bedside of patients at University Hospital Waterford and other healthcare settings to promote creativity, connection and discovery, and reduce isolation, anxiety and stress for patients, family members and staff. The Waterford Healing Arts programme also provides rich examples of good practice, and research, pilots and evaluates new ideas, all of which informs Réalta’s national work. Réalta is core funded by the Arts Council and the HSE.
ENDS
Further info: Aisling Kennedy, Réalta, aisling.kennedy@realta.ie /051-842664
Image: Rica’s exhibition in-situ, 2025. Photo by DGM Photography.
For more information about Rica’s work, visit: https://rs-craft.studio.site/
