GuestPost: Madeira Friends
DIGITAL NOMADS GIFT "SÃO JOÃO DE DEUS MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION"
Through a vibrant array of bold and happy colors, Tiago Rodrigues, Timeq_one artist, alongside Madeira Friends and Digital Nomads, collaborated in a new art installation entitled “FLOURISHING” which was done live at the biggest mindfulness event in the world, Wanderlust which had their first edition in Madeira on Oct 8-9.
When art and mental health are combined, the story of the artist and the art itself can serve as a powerful tool to raise awareness about topics that are sometimes forgotten, stigmatized, or misunderstood and to give voice to mental health, trauma, and healing.
The word flourishing is commonly used in psychology which represents having a good feeling and functioning well and also the capability to experience positive emotions, positive interest, and engagement with the world around them. In this art piece, it further represents a blooming, prosperous growth. Therefore, the word “flourishing” is centered in white and embodied in the middle of colorful abstract floral elements.
To mark Mental Health Day, October 10th, the Digital Nomads through the social project “MFICA”, Madeira Friends visited the health center of São João de Deus, in Funchal. They took with them the art display as a small artistic gift of encouragement, positivity and strength in the form of applause and appreciation to all the health professionals who work there. They were welcomed with open arms by dozens of people, including the director of the institution, Eduardo Lemos, as well as its employees, patients, and volunteers.
