Chiu Ming Yan

Theme: Gratitude in Action

Merit, School Category, 2025

Artist statement:

I wanted to depict a heart failure patient who was initially suffering from their condition, illustrated through a broken heart. However, that hole in their life could fortunately be mended, thanks to the kindness they could receive. Through this, I hope to express the deep feelings of joy and comfort felt by organ transplant recipients, allowing them to transcend the limitations from their previous health condition. The warm environment was intended to depict the support the recipient had received, allowing the recipient to now have a heart full of love. The flowers depict the kindness received from organ recipients. At the same time, I also hope that it shows how acts of kindness can cause ripple effects in communities because of the power of gratitude, because the organ recipient now has all these flowers to pay the kindness forward to others, and perhaps other organ failure patients.

About the Artist

Chiu Ming Yan, 16
Nanyang Girls' High School