Just Rest
FoM Group 3
Mixed-media
‘Just Rest’ is about reinstating balance as it is the individual’s innate desire amidst exhaustion, illness and at times when we are pushed in daily living to perform and contribute.
Utter rest is essential for recovery, yet often hard to fulfil. When the need to regain health arises, the ability to completely let go and rest is essential to re-establish function. Rest is fundamental to the overall amelioration of the human condition when pressures are exerted on the mind and body.
This sculpture illustrates the resting physical form and the dream state in tandem.
As we embark on the path of medicine in an art form, we will strive to incorporate rest into our practice and to maintain balance from the initial onset of this journey.
Kaylee MacDonald, Neha Singh, Phoebe Woods and Hannah Ali, Effective Consulting Year 1
Foundations of Medicine Conference 2023
I was drawn to this piece as the title intrigued me. Rest is something so essential for health however it is not something we often allow ourselves in modern living. From the perspective of a patient it may be frustrating to have to rest, also for doctors often there is not enough time for rest. It is important to consider that when thinking about well-being. The images surrounding the piece show people lying on the floor in different locations demonstrating how rest is essential for every aspect of life. The figure in the middle is human like but undefined. The softness and flow reminds me of a blanket.
I think that when pursuing a career in medicine to become a doctor, it can become arduous and overwhelming at many points, and this has a tremendous effect on the emotional, mental, and physical health of a medical student or a doctor.
While there are solutions present to reduce this, such as maintaining a good work-life balance or taking time out for activities of self-care such as exercise, exhaustion and a lack of rest is an issue that is still ongoing for many medical students and doctors and this is what I greatly appreciated about this artwork- it displayed the importance of resting in a simple yet effective way.
For me, the white figure sleeping in a bent position could represent the individual almost protecting themselves and being less open. I think that this could represent the idea that the individual is taking the time that they need to slow down by prioritising their well-being, focusing on their body and their mind, and healing.
Furthermore, the fact that the figure doesn’t have a proper face shows that this individual could be anyone, and this could emphasise how resting well and putting one’s health first is universally important. For every single person, taking the rest that they require will aid and benefit them.
This is extremely relevant to medical students/ doctors, because if they aren’t well and haven’t prioritised their rest, not only will this negatively affect them, but it could also put patients at risk since doctors have a responsibility over their patients but if they aren’t at their best ability to treat, diagnose or act in the best interest of the patient, this could lead to the potential harm of the patient.
Overall, this artwork displayed in a neat but effective manner the cruciality of taking rest and ensuring not to neglect one’s health/well-being during their career in medicine.
I really liked this piece as it highlights the importance of looking after yourself as a doctor, since you can’t offer optimal patient care without ever prioritising yourself. I think it’s a skill that doctors have to learn and also easily forget. Sometimes it is even something they can’t afford to do due to their workload, but I think rest is still something doctors need to remember to prioritise in order to not only look after themselves but also their patients.