No.8 People’s Hospital
Image 2-5 Slide to See All>>
Journals:
My mom and I visited my grandma at No. 8 Hospital a lot this summer. Most of the patients were seniors who could no longer take care of themselves. My mom, always warm and outgoing. She almost knew everyone, and whenever we ran into someone, she would always tell me something about them.
The inspiration for this GIF series came from my grandma’s roommate, Granny Wu. When we first met, she was wobbled past me, muttering something I couldn’t quite hear—it felt like listening to fish blowing bubbles through water.
I recorded what I saw through writing and drawing. I had never seriously paid attention to the lives of the elderly before— I rarely saw old age as something interesting or worth noticing. The facilities of No.8 Hospital were quite decent: there was a huge garden outside, meals were served regularly, and caregivers and doctors were on duty 24/7. But since most of the elderly in this department couldn’t care for themselves, affected by physical or mental conditions, I didn’t see them engage in any other entertainment. Even the simplest daily tasks seemed to drain all their energy. I’m not sure if all of them feel satisfied with their condition. Now and then, I’d overhear comments from them like, “It wouldn’t matter if I suddenly died.”
/The one mumbling in the hallway was Grandma's roommate, Granny Wu. She walked unsteadily and always said a few words to me when she passed by. It wasn't until the third time I visited that she realized who I was and enthusiastically introduced herself. I could sometimes understand what she was saying, but most of the time it felt like listening to fish blow bubbles underwater.
/At the hospital, you’d often see people wheeling themselves back and forth or just sitting in chairs— not sure whether they were spacing out or enjoying the view, sometimes falling asleep.
/Once, an old lady’s wheelchair seemed to have some issues—it wouldn’t budge no matter how she twisted or moved. But it was dinnertime, and everyone else was seriously focused on eating. She was left in the middle, struggling on her own, like a bugged-out character stuck in a glitch in time. She wobbled in place for quite a while before a nurse finally noticed and came to help her.
/There was a lady who practiced calligraphy—every time I went, I’d see her by the window, either sitting or standing with her cane. There was another who loved to talk nonstop and even gave all the nurses nicknames as if they were her relatives. Some would clap and greet every person who passed by. Some could still walk slowly to get water on their own. Occasionally, someone would shout loudly, but most of the time it was quiet—you could only hear the air conditioner rattling a panel on the ceiling.