I was honoured to create a highly unique artwork recalling the life and legacy of the late Professor Roger Williams. A giant in the field of liver research and founder of the Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology within King's College London, where the artwork now resides. This project was challenging and rewarding in equal measure, but moreover, a great pleasure to work on. My thanks to Professor Shilpa Chokshi and Natalie Day at The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology for approaching me with the opportunity, it’s been brilliant working together. It was also a privilege to meet Roger’s family and peers as we viewed the piece.
'I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on the incredible journey that led to the creation of a profound tribute to our late founder, mentor, and director, #ProfessorRogerWilliams. His legacy in the field of medicine and hepatology is truly unparalleled, and we were entrusted with a treasure trove of his 35mm projector slides, each holding the rich history of his groundbreaking work in liver disease.
To immortalise this legacy, we turned to the talented Natalya Byrne. We posed a challenging task – to craft a memorial art piece incorporating these historic slides. Natalya’s vision, creative genius, and tireless effort came together to create a mosaic of Prof Roger Williams’ legacy. She meticulously selected and transformed slides from the thousands we provided, bringing to life the unwavering dedication and essence of Prof’s work.
The portrait within the artwork, captured from a 1970s photograph at the Liver Unit at KCH, symbolically floats amidst predominantly blue-toned slides, resembling the sea that illuminated Prof’s passions – medicine, hepatology, and sailing.
Our deepest gratitude to Natalya for her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication in bringing this vision to life. This artwork stands as a testament to the indelible mark Prof Roger Williams left on the world of medicine, and we are honoured to have such a powerful representation of his legacy'
To immortalise this legacy, we turned to the talented Natalya Byrne. We posed a challenging task – to craft a memorial art piece incorporating these historic slides. Natalya’s vision, creative genius, and tireless effort came together to create a mosaic of Prof Roger Williams’ legacy. She meticulously selected and transformed slides from the thousands we provided, bringing to life the unwavering dedication and essence of Prof’s work.
The portrait within the artwork, captured from a 1970s photograph at the Liver Unit at KCH, symbolically floats amidst predominantly blue-toned slides, resembling the sea that illuminated Prof’s passions – medicine, hepatology, and sailing.
Our deepest gratitude to Natalya for her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication in bringing this vision to life. This artwork stands as a testament to the indelible mark Prof Roger Williams left on the world of medicine, and we are honoured to have such a powerful representation of his legacy'
- Professor Shilpa Chokshi, Acting Director & Chief Scientific Officer / Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology
