pLOG

2024-07-29

Presenting the Resilience of Cancer Patients through Contemporary Art

In Taiwan, health education exhibitions often focus on scientific knowledge due to the professional background of medical practitioners, prioritizing medical information. However, these exhibitions frequently overlook the profound personal experiences and emotional states of patients, resulting in a lack of elements that engage deep emotions and empathy. Consequently, health education becomes a one-way communication, overly simplistic, and fails to capture the audience's interest, leading to a rapid loss of engagement despite significant investment of resources and time.

The Integration of Art and Medicine: Beyond Health Education to Healing

In March this year, the "Cancer Series" art exhibition curated by the Fisher Museum of Art at the University of Southern California challenged this knowledge-based approach. By showcasing artist Margaret Lazzari's physical and emotional experiences during her breast cancer treatment, the exhibition attracted numerous art enthusiasts and cancer patients. It created empathy and connection, allowing the general public to understand the profound impact of breast cancer on individuals' psyche and health, as well as the hope for new treatments.

Showcasing Resilience through Art

Margaret Lazzari is an esteemed emeritus professor at the USC Roski School of Art and Design, renowned in the art world. She has created design courses at USC and held positions as Chair of Painting and Drawing, Associate Dean of Art, and Academic Associate Dean. Her work often delves into human emotions and psychological changes, vividly illustrated in her "Cancer Series."

Created between 2003 and 2004, the "Cancer Series" comprises over thirty paintings, drawings, and images. These works capture the extreme emotional fluctuations and psychological trauma experienced during her cancer treatment. The exhibition highlights the dual impact of cancer treatment on the body and mind and the process of reconstructing self-connection. Lazzari's work emphasizes how the connection between the body and self-perception is altered by cancer, and how the artist expresses hope and rebirth through art during the treatment process.

Exhibition Highlights

The "Cancer Series" exhibition not only presents Lazzari's personal experiences but also offers a platform for understanding and empathy through art. Visitors can witness the complex emotions involved in cancer treatment, ranging from despair to hope and from pain to rebirth. Curator Danielle Sommer notes that the exhibition aims to provide insight into the inner world of cancer patients and break down language barriers, allowing people to directly experience the pain and courage of those affected by cancer.

The works on display are not just records of Lazzari's personal journey but also serve as encouragement and support for all who have experienced or are undergoing cancer treatment. The exhibition emphasizes the critical importance of hope and reconstruction in cancer treatment, providing emotional solace to those suffering from cancer while raising awareness and understanding of the psychological and emotional experiences of cancer patients, thereby fostering greater societal attention to cancer treatment and support.

─ PatientsForce Director Irene Ku