TTSH Healing Sky Garden

Tan Tock Seng Hospital's crystal Healing Sky Garden came to life on 17 July 2006. The Healing Sky Garden is a powerfully visual glass sculpture comprising a cluster of glass orchids, a "healing skyway" made up of crystal flowers, clear glass baubles and coloured glass discs, and an amber moon with a stylised phoenix rising.

Overview
Suspended in mid-air in the hospital’s Atrium, the glass artwork captures light from the skylight through the glass roof and disperses the sunlight like a prism, creating a shower of colours where patients, staff and visitors can refresh and rejuvenate themselves in the aurora of light. The installation is illuminated by external spotlights at night.

A world first for a hospital, the mammoth 14m by 6m by 5m art piece demonstrates a clear manifestation of TTSH’s commitment to holistic healing and healing arts which aims to employ art, in all its forms, to provide patient delight and lead them on the path to recovery.

Under the hospital’s The Art of Healing programme, the arts is used to help distract patients from their ailments, express their feelings and reduce anxiety. By this, the hospital aims for improvement in patients’ blood pressure and intake of pain medication, which in turn should translate to faster recovery and a shorter length of hospital stay.

Design and concept
The Healing Sky Garden was designed and conceptualized by pioneering local glass artist, Mr Steven Hwang Fong Boon. He worked together with 360-year-old Czechoslovakian master crystal maker Preciosa to realise his vision for the glass artwork, which embodies hope, faith and renewal in the circle of life.

By portraying elements of rich traditional Chinese cultural symbolism infused with the energetic forward-looking ideas of young Singaporeans, the Healing Sky Garden offers fitting testimony to the quietly tenacious spirit of the hospital’s founder and early Singapore pioneer, Mr Tan Tock Seng.

Each element of the artwork has special significance: the orchids, which are evergreen, tough and resilient; the crystal flowers, clear baubles and coloured discs, represent the healing path or flow of positive energy; and the moon with the phoenix, the former symbolizing the hope of being whole again, and the phoenix, re-birth and a new chance at life.

Artwork
Measuring an impressive 14m x 6m x 5m and suspended in mid-air in the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Atrium, the glass artwork captures light from the skylight during the day and is illuminated by lights at night. Portraying elements of rich traditional Chinese cultural symbolism infused with the energetic forward-looking ideas of young Singaporean artists-designers, the Healing Sky Garden offers fitting testimony to the quietly tenacious spirit of the hospital’s founder and early Singapore pioneer, Mr Tan Tock Seng.

The design of the Healing Sky Garden was inspired by the Chinese phrases: Yue Que Fang Yuan / Hua Xie Yin Guo. Its literal translation by glass artist, Mr Steven Hwang Fong Boon is: “ The half-moon will, in time, be whole again; the wilting flowers will eventually bear fruit.” Its moving message to all who enjoy sanctuary within its integrated space, however brief, is that life can be an interesting, colourful journey full of hope and renewal, energy and light; it is a gentle, inspiring reminder that for every individual, healing and transformation towards strength, wisdom and wholeness is always possible.

Orchids are evergreen, tough and resilient. They reach for the sun by clinging onto tall trees for support, and in this context of healing, TTSH is the care-giver and support for patients. The orchid is also known to possess the four attributes of purity of colour, scent, style and lasting appeal, making it the epitome of nobility. In ancient China, it is highly honoured and revered as the "gentleman of all flowers", and is known for its sweet smell. Additional inspiration came from an ancient Chinese saying: Lan Zhi Xiang, Gai Yi Guo, which translates “the fragrance of an orchid can enshroud an entire country”.

The Crystal Flowers, Clear Baubles & Coloured Discs form the ‘healing skyway’ and represent the healing path or flow of positive energy. Crystals are believed to be able to harness good energy or 'qi', augmented by the air and life in the clear baubles. The discs are transparent coloured glass and add to the healing process through colour and light therapy.

The Moon symbolises the hope of being whole again.

The Phoenix taking flight and rising from the ashes symbolises rebirth and a new chance at life.

Other projects

 * Orchid Botanica