Cancer didn’t make me give up my art. It taught me to adapt.
Over a Zoom call, Madam Foziah Yeon proudly shows me several of her paintings. The senior welfare officer tells me she will gift these canvases to the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS). In fact, her work has contributed to events like the Affordable Arts Fair 2023 and has been gifted by SCS to Guests Of Honour.
One of the paintings I see is inspired by a forest bathing outing Madam Foziah took with SCS. It depicts a fallen branch, detached from the parent tree. “People tend to ignore rotted wood, but I saw new leaves growing around it and even mushrooms,” she remarks.
The scene is a metaphor for cancer survivors like her. “I want to show that even survivors whose bodies are weakened can still contribute,” she says. Madam Foziah plans to title this artwork “Giving Back” in recognition of how she is giving back to SCS with her art, just as it gave to her during her cancer journey.
With every stroke and dab, she paints a hopeful vision of how survivors can be defined beyond their diagnosis.
“I couldn’t even hold a cup of water”
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, Madam Foziah underwent surgery and 25 sessions of radiotherapy. While the cancer was contained, she ended up with weakened limbs, aching muscles, swollen arms and trigger finger (a condition that stiffens the fingers). “I couldn’t even hold a cup of water!” she exclaims.
It was a blow to Madam Foziah whose passions were gardening and art. These hobbies gave her a sense of identity (she had been recognised by NParks as a Community in Bloom ambassador for her volunteerism and horticultural skills), in addition to an income. After all, her job at a welfare home included managing the onsite garden and teaching art to children and youth. She was forced to take a work hiatus for six months to treat and recover from cancer.
Yet, like a tenacious bloom, Madam Foziah found ways to adapt. And in so doing, she deepened her practice as an artist – both on canvas and in the soil.
“You must move forward”
SCS was instrumental in Madam Foziah’s recovery. To this day, she continues to go for SCS’s rehabilitation exercises which she credits for helping her regain her strength and mobility.
She also took part in SCS’ art psychotherapy programme, HeARTfelt, a group art therapy tailored for cancer patients to express their emotions, struggles and themselves in a safe and non-judgmental space, reducing feelings of isolation.
She remarks that she used to take art classes to better teach her students. “Now, I’m doing it for myself!” she says in a nod to self-care and self-improvement.
The rest of her recovery was fuelled by a strong desire to get on with life.
In doing so, she found innovative ways to continue with her job. Instead of working with artistic mediums like clay, she chose to teach painting classes which are easier on her fingers.
Instead of watering the welfare home’s garden every day by hand (which she used to do), she found a system to automate the watering process. She also switched to developing air plants which do not require the heavy work of digging soil. As a bonus, the air plants – which are portable – can be sold by the welfare home for fundraising activities.
Ask her how she came up with these innovations, and she credits her love for learning. “Every year, I upgrade myself. Whatever chance there is, I grab the opportunity,” she says, noting that she learnt about air plants through her interest in horticulture.
Madam Foziah’s Life Lessons
It helped that Madam Foziah’s employers were understanding. She now works a three-day week at the welfare home which allows her to go for weekly rehab sessions.
Following her cancer treatment, she achieved a new milestone at work: Developing a therapeutic garden from scratch at the home’s new premises. She now manages the garden which she designed with calming features like a fish pond where staff and residents can relax.
Her advice to everyone whether they have been touched by cancer or not: “Move forward,” she urges. “You have to be brave, strong and confident. Confidence is most important. You must believe you can do it, and then, you must move too!”