Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation in collaboration with art experts, art therapists, psychologists and opinion leaders would like to create a collection of excellent artwork that, along with artistic value, is able to support cancer patients morally and emotionally, to motivate them in their struggle with the disease. We hope that the submitted artworks will support people in their sorrow and help them stand against the affliction.
Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation invited professional artists, cancer patients and their relatives to participate in creation of new artwork, dedicated to the struggle with cancer and defeating it.
“Art is a wound turned into light.” Georges Braque
Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation was established by the family of Aina Muceniece, honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, pioneer of virotherapy and inventor of the anti-cancer virotherapy drug. The goal of the foundation is to promote the access to virotherapy as a safe and harmless cancer therapy around the world.
This competition is about the light and hope. It is about love, the joy of life and victory over the disease. The slogan of the competition is “Art wins”!
“To be an artist is to believe in life.” Henry Moore
Oncology patients require as much support and encouragement as possible. They need to believe in their strength and be confident in their ability to overcome the disease. In addition to good and quality treatment, they also need a good mood, positive emotions, joy of life and the will to overcome the disease.
“I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint.” Frida Kahlo
Cancer patients are entitled to the quality of life even during the most complicated phases of their treatment. They and their relatives are entitled to be in an understanding, supportive, inspiring and soothing environment. Such an environment and psychological support can also be provided by a good artwork in the patient’s immediate surroundings. The traditional white hospital walls could be wonderfully decorated with emotionally powerful artworks; the artworks that inspire, make a difference, and encourage a person to reevaluate his or her life. The artworks submitted for the competition will be exhibited in medical establishments in the form of travelling exhibitions. We expect those artworks to have a favourable impact on the patients and their recovery.
“Variety of form and brilliancy of colour in the object presented to patients are an actual means of recovery.” Florence Nightingale
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso
“The mood changes when our beautiful nature photos are placed on the walls, providing colour, comfort, and hope to patients, caregivers, and loved ones.” Elaine Poggi, founder of The Foundation for Photo/Art in Hospitals
The creation of art is a very relaxing activity. There is an artist in each of us; there are new and undiscovered talents in everyone. In particular, we welcome cancer patients and their relatives, even those who are not professional artists yet, to take a part in this competition and create brave artworks. We especially welcome persons who have overcome the disease. Perhaps you will discover a new talent within yourself and create outstanding, life-changing artworks.
“If you hear a voice within you saying, ‘You are not a painter,’ then by all means paint, boy, and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent van Gogh
Nowadays the basic treatment is supplemented also by art therapy, recognising its relaxing and beneficial impact on the patient.
“Art therapy is all about the moment, all about the process, all about happiness. Getting lost in the work is the ultimate beauty of what we do.” Valerie Kent
“The medical profession has come a long way in recognising the healing benefits of art. My hope is that someday art will be considered as significant in everyone’s lives as breathing fresh air, eating clean foods, and performing physical exercise.” Renée Phillips
The submitted artworks are exhibited on a regular basis, including travelling exhibitions, and published at the competition’s website. The best artworks received wide publicity and were displayed in public places, as well as in medical institutions.
“Colour provokes a psychic vibration. Colour hides a power still unknown but real, which acts on every part of the human body.” Wassily Kandinsky
“Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.” Paul Klee
Information about the awarded works will be announced publicly.
Aina Muceniece Virotherapy Foundation invites artists to create new artworks to support and inspire oncology patients!
art@virotherapyfoundation.org