Guan Yichen

Theme: Making a difference that endures across time

Merit, School Category, 2024

Artist statement:

Through my artwork, I have expressed making a difference that endures across time by using the important occasion of an organ recipient's birthday. I wanted to highlight the impact of organ donation by showing that it has a long-term impact on recipients as they are able to recover from the illness that they had before the donation, therefore being able to continue living their life. This is shown in my artwork as all the female figures with brown hair represent the different stages of life the girl is in, firstly her child stage in the centre holding the birthday cake, secondly her post-graduate stage, thirdly her adult stage, and so on with the fourth figure. These all signify the importance that the girl is able to live on due to her being saved by organ donation, emphasising the impact that endures across time. I have also drawn them celebrating their birthday together as every birthday marks an important milestone of life for them as it signifies another year they are able to live. The black-haired girl at the right is the organ donor, watching over her beneficiaries. Therefore, through the girl’s birthday, I have expressed making a difference that endures across time by showing the long-term impacts on an organ donation recipient.

About the Artist

Guan Yichen, 14
Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)