Who We Are
Efterpi Soropos – Founder & Creator (view full CV)
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Efterpi Soropos is a lighting designer, educator and researcher. In the past, Efterpi has designed lighting for productions around Australia, and has created critically acclaimed installations. Efterpi has also held teaching positions with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Recently, Efterpi has been researching the use of immersive artistic environments in palliative care. Efterpi’s interest in this area was stimulated by her spending many hours at the bed side of her mother who was dying from breast cancer.
In 2007 Efterpi completed a Masters in Community Cultural Development, at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University, theorising about the environments people are in hospitals and at end of life and how art can effectively alleviate suffering. In 2008 an Ian Potter Cultural Trust grant enabeled Efterpi to travel to the UK and Holland researching into the use of art in hospitals for distraction and alleviation of suffering. The outcome of this research forms the basis of her first pilot prototype project at McCulloch House, Monash Medical Centre, the disambiguation room, funded by a grant from Arts Victoria, Community Partnerships.
The aim of this work is to explore how hospital rooms can be transformed into spaces where people can engage in an experience that helps alleviates their anxiety, stress and pain. Human Rooms incorporates unique artworks that Efterpi and her team have developed specifically for this project.
McCulloch House
Is a sixteen bed palliative care/hospice unit at Monash Medical Centre. The main aim of the unit is to assess and care for patients with life limiting illness and their caregivers. It provides symptom control, end of life care, respite and supportive care for patients and their families.
