‘When Clouds turn to Eggs.’
By Peter Waweru
It had shades of white and cream, splashes of yellow and a hint of green. I remember it well. Even more so with the symbolism etched on my mind. If a picture speaks a thousand words, this painting spoke two thousand. Before we go on, let’s get to know one another.
My name is Peter Waweru. I’m currently a sixth-year medical student at the University of Nairobi. In November 2018, I got the chance to do my elective term at the University Hospital in Frankfurt. Part of the program was to attend a session at the Public Health Department. The Public Health office in Frankfurt is divided into various departments, one of which is the Psychiatric Department.
When you get to the Psych Department’s floor, you can’t help but notice the beautiful art paintings on the walls. They all seem similar but at the same time, are very different. The name of this particular collection is, ‘When clouds turn to eggs.’
The story goes that a man lived near Frankfurt. He was an artist. He loved painting. He was also great at it. The first paintings you see are phenomenal. He painted his city beautifully and with passion. He painted the people, the river coursing through the city, the houses, the church and the clouds. He painted the clouds almost to suit the promise that the budding city had. They had a way of getting your attention. It wasn’t the first thing you noticed, but once you did, it was the only thing you could notice. They seemed so real, tangible. They were the very embodiment of talent.
The artist – let’s call him T, developed Alzheimer’s. As a result, as time went by, he changed. His paintings changed. The people he painted, appeared less realistic. The river didn’t have as many waves. The houses were more regular and with sharper edges. The clouds, once the window to the observer’s imagination, we’re now eggs. An oval white patch with a splash of yellow at the center.
His son donated these works to the Public Health office to serve as a reminder. A reminder that everyone has a story. And that their health, affects their story.