Eyes 2 See

 

PFP.NGO’s Eyes 2 See Campaign at ART Basel has been designed to showcase dedicated artists who are supporting patients with visual impairment or are visually impaired themselves. 

At PFP.NGO, we believe in the art of visual memories.  Giving our patients a visual memory and the ability to remember what he/she/they sees, including colors, patterns, and images on the mind’s movie screen to improves patient lives.

100% of all proceeds will support patients with vision care, preventive eye care exams, eyeglasses, and management of ocular diseases. 

In 1990, PFP.NGO was established and inspired by Tony L. Choon.  Tony began to offer free Eye Care and Medical Care in support of marginalized and underserved communities and residents in the Tri-State NYC area.  Tony expanded the Lions Club’s community outreach by founding the Lions Club Glaucoma Day in NYC, in partnership with local New York City hospitals, which served thousands of eye care patients each year. 

Art meets Science when we look at the evidence base for enjoyment of Art in all its forms.  According to a quality of life study conducted by Oxford University, here are some of the benefits of viewing art: 

• DECREASED STRESS LEVELS:  
  • People who spent 35 minutes or more during their lunch break exploring an art gallery reported feeling less stressed.
• INCREASED EMPATHY:  
  • Students surveyed after visiting an art museum displayed higher social tolerance and increased historical empathy.
• EMOTIONS OF LOVE:  
  • Neurobiologist Semir Zeki found that the brain releases dopamine, the chemical of pleasure, when someone is viewing art.
• STRONGER CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS:  
  • Children who visited an art museum experienced a 9-18% increase in critical thinking skills.
• RELIEF FROM MENTAL EXHAUSTION:  
  • Psychology professor Jan Packer’s study found that viewing art helps relieve people of mental exhaustion and restore focus in the same way that the outdoors can.

 

Claude Monet experienced sight loss and worked on his ‘Water Lilies’ paintings – arguably the series for which he’s most famous.’  He was registerable as blind at that time.  Many are surprised to learn that several one of the most famous artists of all time was visually impaired, even Monet. 

 

At PFP.NGO, we have a deep respect for the profound capacity as humans to adapt and change.