Art4you Gallery organises October events for breast cancer awareness

DUBAI: Organised by Dubai-based Art4you Gallery, the breast cancer awareness campaign kicked off on October 14 with live painting by international artists and ended with women talk and art showcase.

The Art4you Gallery in the United Arab Emirates had its ‘Pink October’ campaign in honour of October, which is the international breast cancer awareness month. The UAE’s artistic community chose to conclude with a 15-day festival named ‘The Colour of Hope’. According to the organiser, holding a breast cancer awareness event enables us to raise public awareness of the problem.

Over the world, millions of women are impacted by breast cancer. People from all walks of life pledged their support for breast cancer survivors through creative activities like a virtual art exhibition, women talk, photo in pink frame, pink ribbon dinner, survivor celebration and inspirational speech, and sustainable live art. These participants included students, accomplished artists, healthcare professionals, women leaders, and art educators. Every woman in the community made a commitment to raise awareness of breast cancer from October 14 to October 30.

Let’s now look at some innovative activities that made this month significant and unforgettable.

Sustainable Live Art: As we work to harness the power of #Art4Change, a group of worldwide artists celebrated art, knowledge, courage, and community with us.

On October 14, artists painted imaginatively with a “Pink” motif on planters at Arabeska City Walk. A glass vase in the middle holds a peace lily plant that will be planted and maintained ready for everyone. The planter has a cane exterior. As a memento, they all took the glass planter and put it on display after the painting was completed. It is an original idea and an ecological planter. Peace lily plants are great for your home because they are powerful air purifiers. The Green Revolution Dubai, our sustainability partner, provided support for this initiative.

As part of a worthy cause, each artist made a contribution to the breast cancer awareness campaign. Anhita Ansari Pour, Shakiba Rabiei, Pegah Rezaei Rad, Mahboobeh Shahnavaz from Iran, Yuliya Solomennaya from Belarus, Svetlana Kreventsova from Russia, Maryna Futymska from Ukraine, Neetu George, Maria Komal Abie, Jesno Jackson, Barati Mehansi from India, Rania Abdelrahman from Sudan, Fatima Ghandour from Lebanon, Roa Al Madani, and Bhumika Maniyar from the United Arab Emirates were among the fifteen artists who took part. Breast Cancer Now, Monviso Italian Natural Mineral Water, and Monroe Medical Centre all supported this event. As part of the theme, The Secret Garden Flowers filled the venue with pink balloons and pink flowers.

“This is a cause that is very close to our hearts. Being a cancer survivor, I want to give a great pleasure to all creative and artists who work in all mediums and styles and artworks that have strong accents of the Colour – PINK to bring forward as a part of this event. I am glad to share my strength and resilience, the collective energy and unity in ART here to inspire a sense of hope and empowerment among attendees. When life pushes us over, we get up and push it back with double the strength. We have the strength and the power of a lion. Belief in our own willpower can do wonders. Giving HER the hope will give her the strength to fight this battle positively,” says curator Jesno Jackson.

Pink Art Showcase and HOPE Watercolour Painting: Along with the celebration, on October 15, the organiser provided an interactive pink art showcase and live watercolour painting with a group of creatives at Secret Garden City Walk. This allowed visitors to express their feelings and unity through flowery creative expression, with help from FUNBO Art Partner. Every artist traded pink flowers and created paintings with the topic “pink flowers”. Participating artist were Maryna Futymska, Svetlana Kreventsova, Natalia Vityugova, Khuloud Almhairi and Jesno Jackson. H.E. Laila Rahhall inaugurated the event with fresh rose flowers followed by #PINKTOBER Photo frame campaign.

Survivor Celebration – Guest speakers & Survivor Stories: Survivors had the chance to tell their story during the 14th event, encouraging others with their bravery and tenacity. The audience was inspired by the individual testimonies of hope and victory and listened intently. As everyone gathered to honour the survivors and their amazing adventures, there was a palpable sense of support and solidarity in the room. We also asked well-known authorities in the field of activism and research on breast cancer to provide thought-provoking and educational presentations. Jesno Jackson and Sandra Cristina Isidro Martinho shared their survivor stories. The Mommy Bakery provided pink ribbon cakes and sweets with elegance by Rihanna’s Pink Scarf in support of this event.

Photo in Pink Frame: For the campaign, all women were urged to snap pink moments in the floral Instagram photo frame. These photos had to be shared on social media with the hashtag #pinktober.

The Pink Ribbon Dinner: A formal PINK dress code and opulent décor brought the refined and elegant concept of the Pink Ribbon Dinner to life. Guests were encouraged to support breast cancer survivors on October 14 by dressing in their best pink gear. The Secret Garden Florals’ floral arrangements and Arabeska City Walk Restaurant’s exquisite display of pink ribbons welcomed the guests with elegance and grace. Tables were adorned with pink dried flowers and centre pieces that featured pink flowers, which represent strength and hope. After a brief address by Dr. Mughnia Bamyani, MD, a general dentist at Monroe Medical Centre, who discussed her substantial commitment to the fight against breast cancer and offered advice on early diagnosis, health, and beauty, the guests departed the event feeling fulfilled. Dinner and networking followed the event, and attendees enthusiastically raised awareness by donning pink clothes.

Virtual Art Exhibition – Think Pink: It was a multidisciplinary virtual art exhibition that celebrated women’s power and resilience. The exhibit, which included works by both emerging and experienced artists, examined a wide range of pink-related themes, such as the power of hope and diversity in art style, practice, and background. In most of the artworks, they used the colour pink to represent friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and most importantly, hope and healing.

Women Talk & Hospital Visit: Support Partner and local healthcare clinic Monroe Medical Centre invited us for hospital visit with women talk. This provided attendees with an opportunity to prioritise their health and detect any potential issues early on. Four medical professionals, a cancer survivor, and female leaders discussed early detection, diagnosis, common myths, and typical doubts individuals have about breast cancer in an effort to increase awareness about the big C.

Rengi Cherian – Founder said: “We decided to have a campaign that would appeal to both the minds and the hearts of the masses. We believe that art has the power to inspire change and ignite conversations around important issues.”

In summary, breast cancer awareness is more than just a month-long campaign or series of events; it is an ongoing effort to educate, empower, and inspire individuals and communities. By understanding the consequences of the disease and the significance of awareness campaigns, we can work together to raise early detection rates, provide support to those affected, and finally work toward a future where breast cancer is no longer a life-threatening condition.