Artist: Mary Bernadette Lee (Mrydette)
Year: 2017
Medium: Hand-painted mural and linocut print
Locations: Clinic A71/A72 – JurongHealth-NCIS Cancer Services, Chemotherapy Bay

Co-created with:
Singapore Cancer Society

“Rise Above” is a series of hand-painted murals by Singaporean artist/illustrator Mary Bernadette Lee (Mrydette) and linocut prints, co-created with participants from Singapore Cancer Society.

Bringing the power of nature indoors, the artist transformed the Chemotherapy Bay in Ng Teng Fong General Hospital into an oasis of calm and serenity. Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden” and personal stories of cancer survivors, the murals illustrate a mystical oasis filled with whimsicality. Tiny human figures explore the garden, taking flight on birds and supporting one another up larger-than-life sized flowers, metaphorically narrating the underlying themes of courage, resilience and hope.

The garden extends out to the Clinic’s waiting area with 26 vibrantly coloured linocut prints created by the participants of Singapore Cancer Society over a series of workshops conducted by the artist. The workshops provided the cancer survivors with an outlet for self-expression as well as bonding, which helped to sustain them through difficult times. The colourful blooming garden represents their relentless positivity and strength in the face of their illness.

Tapping on Nature’s intrinsic healing quality, the artist aims to create a soothing healing voyage with the artworks, a gardenscape of comfort and respite that would inspire patients with hope and optimism.

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