Kacy Wong Yan Hei

Theme: More than Me - Beyond this Life

Merit, School Category, 2019

Artist statement:

In my art piece, it shows a girl reaching for a heart on a tree. The girl is supposed to represent one of the patients in need of an organ transplant, while the tree represents the donor. The girl's act of reaching out for the heart shows desperation and hope that she will be able to continue living. She is dressed in a hospital gown which is slowly breaking away, showing how everyday, patients go through a lot and might start to lose hope, and how they could die at any point in time. The heart shows how she needs a literal heart, as well as the support and love of others around her. It is important that we show our support to the patients in order to give them the strength that they need. The heart is glowing and is the source of light in the picture, showing how the heart is a source of hope and energy for the girl.

I used a lot of symbolism with flowers and colours in my art piece. The daffodils, swallow and different greens in the leaves represent renewal and regeneration, as the donor will allow the girl to have another chance at life and to live normally again. The white rose and white orchid represent innocence and purity, and there is also a red flower as red is a symbol for strength. The lotus flower is a symbol for health. I also used a yellow background as yellow is a colour commonly associated with hope and energy. I added some lines wrapping around the tree, as well as some of the leaves and colours detaching from plants and swallow, as i liked how it looked and felt that it would make it more unique.

About the Artist

Kacy Wong Yan Hei, 14
Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)