Lyna Mohamad
Putting paintbrush to canvas, 15 cancer survivors expressed themselves during an art therapy session at the Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre (PJSC). The collaborative event was organised by The Brunei Cancer Centre (TBCC) of PJSC and Rainforest Gallery.
The activity – held in conjunction with the upcoming World Cancer Day 2022 – marked the final session during which the participants placed the finishing touches to their artworks. The previous two art therapy sessions focussed on the various phases of art painting.
Cancer survivors shared their courageous recovery journey via artwork, under the guidance of Rainforest Gallery Managing Owner Dato Paduka Haji Shofry bin Haji Abdul Ghafor.
PJSC Executive Director cum World Cancer Day Chairperson Dr Haji Mazrul Adimin bin Haji Awang Besar, TBCC Director and Deputy Chairperson of World Cancer Day Dato Seri Laila Jasa Dr Babu Sukumaran and Head of Early Detection and Cancer Prevention Services (EDCPS) Datin Dr Hajah Noraslinah binti Haji Ramlee also attended.
Using art as a form of treatment helps cancer patients and survivors explore their ideas, express creativity, and motivates them to be more confident, while alleviating pain or suffering they may be experiencing.
Cancer patients and survivors typically prefer art therapy because the creativity required in creating an artwork provides a therapeutic sense of well-being. The cancer survivors also stamped their mark by painting their interpretation of the World Cancer Day 2022 theme ‘Close The Care Gap’ onto the graffiti art mural (painted by Guerrilla Artchitects), which will be revealed during the commemoration event tomorrow.
World Cancer Day is an annual health campaign marked globally every February 4 with the lighting up of landmarks and the creation of social media challenges by participating countries.
This year, PJSC will commemorate the event on a small-scale with the lighting up of landmarks, showcase of cancer survivors’ artworks, a cancer exhibition at the PJSC Lobby and a social media campaign.
