Healing through art: Indian doctors and artists bring the journey of survivors and caregivers to canvas

Doctors and artists from across India come together to tell on canvas 45 diverse stories of critical illness survivors and their caregivers from January 7 to 13, 2025, from 11 am to 7 pm at Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai Canvas 13 is telling cancer stories. Survivorship, eight organ transplants, pediatric health, general health, mental health, women’s health, cerebral hemorrhage, infertility, acute leukemia, and many other diseases.

This exhibition titled ‘Art for Health’ is part of color it blueAn initiative on the intersection of art and health was launched by Story and Art Curator Ami Shah and Dr. Rajeev Kovil on April 7, 2022.

Ms Shah said the initiative was inspired by the World Health Organization (WHO) scoping report, which recognized the important role of the arts in healing patients and their caregivers. The initiative aims to improve health literacy, promote positive health behaviors and harness the power of the arts to help individuals and communities manage chronic, acute and mental health conditions.

The show showcases a variety of real-world stories related to health issues, including the experiences of cancer survivors, organ transplant recipients, child health concerns, general health topics, mental health issues and women’s health. Doctors, patients, their caregivers and 36 artists from across India have worked on the project since December 2023.

“More than 45 artworks are on display and each is inspired by a true story. These pieces reflect the journeys of individuals, narrated with their doctors and caregivers, who share their experiences of hope, courage, and resilience. The exhibition aims to inspire visitors to not only survive, but to move forward in the face of insurmountable challenges. This unique collection has been created by skilled artists from across India and will grace art galleries across the country, starting with Mumbai,” said Dr. Rajeev Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Xandra Healthcare and Co-Founder color it blueSaid.

“The first thing we did was create a spreadsheet where we put 100 health conditions,” said Ami Shah, who brought everyone together for the project. We created columns with the names of the doctors who treated him. After doctors shared their best case studies, we invited patients and their caregivers on Zoom in the presence of their doctors The call which was recorded with their consent. At those meetings, patients told stories of physical and emotional pain, recovery, society’s reaction, and financial burden. The recordings were given to contemporary artists from across India, who created narrative stories on canvas.

It takes at least five months to complete one canvas. Ms Shah said her aim was to stop at 100 canvasses to tally 100 identified diseases.

Rohan (Rishi) Dayal’s thought-provoking artwork, ‘glass maze‘, traces the harrowing journey of Prabhakar, an alcohol addict from Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. From the tender age of 10, Mr. Prabhakar’s alcohol addiction grew slowly but steadily, affecting his health, family and financial stability.

The painting vividly depicts Mr. Prabhakar’s struggle when he is trapped in an overgrown whiskey glass, symbolizing the deadly nature of addiction. As the boy grows up, the cycle of alcoholism tightens its grip, reflecting the increasing complexity of his dependency. Still, a glimmer of hope emerges as the hand reaches out, representing the support and guidance that ultimately led to his recovery.

“With the compassion and unwavering support of his family and medical professionals like Dr. Abhay and Dr. Rani Bang, Mr. Prabhakar embarked on a challenging path to sobriety,” Ms. Shah said. His participation in the prohibition movement in Gadchiroli underlines his commitment to helping others free themselves from the chains of addiction.

Touching artwork of Pratap Badtya,’divine intervention,’ depicts the harrowing experience of actor Shreyas Talpade and his wife Deepti Talpade during their life-threatening cardiac arrest. The canvas is a stark contrast of light and shadow, depicting the delicate balance between life and death.

Artwork Title’‘Glass Maze’ This story by Rohan (Rishi) Dayal is about the harrowing journey of an alcohol addict in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The painting depicts the couple’s journey, which contains moments of both joy and fear. Taking inspiration from the mythological story of Savitri and Satyavan, the artwork highlights Deepti’s unwavering determination to keep her husband alive. Dr. Vijay Lulla’s timely medical intervention was instrumental in reviving Mr. Talpade’s heart.

“The chaotic backdrop of Bollywood sets and traffic jams epitomize the obstacles they faced,” Ms Shah said. However, the painting also portrays the collective effort of doctors, hospital staff and even strangers who came together to help Shreyas Talpade reach the hospital.

In 1976, Daisy D’Costa made history as the first woman in India to undergo bypass surgery, a groundbreaking procedure performed by cardiac surgeon, Dr. KM Cherian. Today, at the age of 93, she stands as a testament to the power of medical innovation and human resilience.

Painting by artist Vijay Gile, ‘A new beat’ reflects Ms. D’Costa’s surgical rebirth and the biblical resurrection of Jesus Christ, Ms. Shah said. At the center of the painting is a large, two-horse chariot, symbolizing the MS. D’Costa’s journey to recovery. “The blocked passage of the chariot represents the blockage of his heart artery, while the bypass represents the innovative surgical solution that allowed him to continue his journey. This simple yet profound metaphor highlights the genius of Dr. Cherian’s surgical technique. Today, Daisy’s legacy extends far beyond her medical triumphs. With a loving family of five children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, his story continues to inspire the lives of countless people,” Ms Shah said.