The Art of Surviving Craniopharyngioma

Name
Eugenie Hsu

Brain Tumor Type
Craniopharyngioma

Date of Diagnosis
August 26, 2011

Participant Group
Caregiver/Family Member

Category
Drawing/Painting/Printmaking/Chalk Art

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
"The Art of Surviving Craniopharyngioma" is an oil painting on a 18" x 24" canvas.

One morning, I gathered my son's daily medical supplies and arranged them in a still life to paint. These supplies are essential to his ability to stay medically stable and alive which is why the painting is entitled "The Art of Surviving Craniopharyngioma" and is meant to be construed as a triple entendre including its literal meanings. The many pill bottles and other medical supplies crowd the table and are meant to portray how much they are a part of my son's daily routine and survival.

I am inspired by some of my favorite painters, Edward Hopper, Wayne Thiebaud, and Richard Diebenkorn, and love to use rich and saturated colors in my artwork. As a someone who is relatively new to creating visual arts (I began to draw and paint in 2022 without having had prior training), I have found it to be a very rewarding and enjoyable hobby. Despite being a newbie at painting, I have entered and been selected in two museum and gallery shows including the San Francisco DeYoung Open (which selected my 2023 Art of Surviving entry, Forbidden Fruit).

"The Art of Surviving Craniopharyngioma" is for sale to the person who offers the most votes (a minimum of 500 votes) with 100% of the funds donated to the Raymond A. Wood Foundation.

Follow me on IG @sumodoux

Artist Bio: Tell Us Your Story
As a mother and caregiver to a cranio survivor for the past 13 years, I know that this brain tumor is far from "benign." The medical conditions left in the aftermath of the tumor are chronic, complex-to-manage, and can be disabling,

In 2020, I joined the board of directors of RAWF and have been focused on doing everything in my power to advance research and advocacy in order to help improve the lives of brain tumor survivors like my son. I live by the belief that patients and caregivers own the power and knowledge to be the best advocates and I hope that others who are impacted by the tumor may also join me and RAWF in improving the lives of our survivors and their families.