Tan Wen Ting

Theme: Making a difference starting with me

Merit, School Category, 2024

Artist statement:

In my artwork, the human figure represents the viewer, illustrating how their simple actions can have a profound impact on many lives. What the viewer is doing here, is spreading awareness through their voice, symbolised by the flow of the wind. Each yellow face represents the individuals the viewer can influence - each of them a special, kind-hearted soul on their journey towards the lotus, which symbolises patients in need of organ donations.

A fully bloomed lotus signifies a recovered patient, while an unbloomed flower represents a patient still awaiting an organ donor. The lotus is used as a symbol because it represents new life. With a new organ, these patients, the lotuses, are given a new chapter in their lives and can continue to live on. The blooming of a flower accentuates the emergence of a new life.

The colour yellow on the faces are symbolic of energy and vitality. As we pass on our organs, we transfer new life and energy, providing others with another opportunity to live. Through this artwork, I aim to show that each viewer has the power to make a difference, starting with themselves.

About the Artist

Tan Wen Ting, 16
Bedok Green Secondary School