An immersive new art installation, ‘Can you really see me?’, is now on display at Wakefield Kirkgate train station.
It invites people to think about identity, visibility and what it really means to be seen. The installation was created by our Hospice and is shaped by the voices of patients, carers, staff, volunteers and community service users.
The artwork is installed in the LonGBoaT gallery space at the station. It has been delivered in partnership with LonGBoaT and marks Dying Matters Awareness Week. While it links to the campaign’s focus on open conversations about dying, it also reflects LonGBoaT’s commitment to LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion.
The project was led by Jo Lister, our Wellbeing Coordinator at the Hospice, along with our Occupational Therapist, Chris Cook and other members of our Hospice’s Wellbeing and Community team.
Words featured throughout the installation came from conversations with Hospice patients, staff, volunteers and community service users. These words represent labels that can influence how people are seen. Sometimes, these labels can get in the way of seeing the whole person.
The artwork includes a partly covered window and a central figure. Together, they encourage viewers to think about how understanding others often takes time, patience and care. By placing the work in a busy public space, the installation invites people passing through the station to pause and reflect on identity beyond first impressions and labels.
Jo Lister, our Wellbeing Coordinator at the Hospice, said:
We try to see the whole person, not just an illness, a role or a label. This piece gently asks people to stop and think about how easily the person at the centre can be missed, especially in places where people are often defined by their situation rather than who they truly are.
Alongside the installation, we are collaborating with other organisations to support Dying Matters Awareness Week through a range of events and activities aimed at opening up conversations about dying, death and grief. These activities reflect the Hospice’s commitment to listening, compassion and community support.
‘Can you really see me?’ is free to view in the LonGBoaT gallery at Wakefield Kirkgate train station from Dying Matters Awareness Week (4–10 May 2026) until Sunday 31 May 2026.
For more information about our Hospice and its work, visit www.pwh.org.uk.
