Sunlight filters through the tall glass windows, illuminating the vivid colours of a freshly-painted wall mural in the newly-opened Medicine+Science Library at NUS. Vistas depicting scenes familiar to NUS Medicine students and staff greet the visitor.

In the creative hands of Jaxton Su, the artist behind the three-metre tall work, the daily routines of medical school life from the past to the present are creatively presented as individual scenes taking place within the confines of a building.

Anatomy teachers in discussion, students and instructors working in laboratories and beside hospital beds, and staff going about their daily business, the tableaus of everyday life at the NUS medical school from Sepoy Lines days at Outram to the present-day Kent Ridge campus are rendered in vivid colours. Older alumni will recognise Ah Leng’s canteen, while the School’s two principal benefactors, Mr Tan Jiak Kim and Dr Yong Loo Lin make cameo appearances.

Dr Yong Loo Lin makes a guest appearance.

Fun and whimsical portrayal of medical school days

Why depict medical school life in such a whimsical manner?

“I wanted to steer away from something that is looking too academic or clinical, and inject a bit of fun and humour into the mural. We play with miniatures when we are kids and imagine narratives and possibilities we can create with them…So, the concept of a miniature dollhouse, within which the tableaus featuring the daily routines associated with medical education, could be highlighted,” said Mr Su.

Throughout history, murals have served as captivating storytellers, immortalising achievements and commemorating significant events, added NUS Medicine Vice-Dean for Education, Adjunct Professor Lau Tang Ching. He hopes the NUS Medicine mural will do likewise. “This mural depicts the history of NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, from its location in Sepoy Lines to Kent Ridge. It also captures the vibrant student life, learning activities, a few familiar faces and nostalgic sites. Through the vibrant visual narratives, the mural weaves together the tapestry of our community’s rich history and culture.”

The pictorial narrative—so familiar to students and alumni—begins from the left of the mural, with the School’s founding years, through to life on the Kent Ridge campus. Students are seen ascending the steps to the Centre for Translational Medicine; their progress through medical school is represented through the various scenes and culminate in their graduation. The latter is depicted in a separate scene, which is symbolically located at the top of the mural.

A salute to benefactors

Look closely, and you’ll find two characters that are dressed a little differently from the rest.

Positioned at the start of the mural, with a genial smile and outstretched arm, is local businessman and philanthropist Mr Tan Jiak Kim, whose efforts led to the establishment of Singapore’s first medical school in 1905.

The first president of the Straits Chinese British Association saw the value of a medical school that would educate and train doctors to look after the local population. He led a group of representatives of the Chinese and other non-European communities and petitioned the Governor of the Straits Settlements to establish a medical school in Singapore.

Sepoy Lines days: Benefactor Tan Jiak Kim (left) and scenes that will resonate with older NUS Medicine alumni.

Having raised $87,077, of which the largest amount of $12,000 came from himself, the medical school was founded on 3 July 1905. It was initially named the Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School.

“I did a lot of research on the history of the School, as I wanted to represent its history as accurately as possible, while not forgetting the fun touches to the lively painting as well,” said Mr Su.

He pointed to the drawing of Dr Yong Loo Lin, who is shown reading at a desk. As a fond advocate of education, Dr Yong was a successful businessman. After his passing in 1959, his family established the Yong Loo Lin Trust. A sizeable gift from the Trust in 2005 energised the work of the School, enabling it to make significant progress in medical education and research.

In honour and recognition of this transformational act of philanthropy, the School was renamed the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Building on the legacy

While the scenes shift from past to present, the focus on patient-centric, compassionate care remains a constant theme in the mural’s scenes, along with the notion of onward progress in learning and growth.

With this painted metaphor of continual learning and growing, the beholder is reminded of the unending journey that is life in Medicine for those who choose to make it their calling, said Adj Prof Lau. “I am always filled with gratitude as I think about the important values I learned from the pioneers who came before us and the strong bond I share with my classmates, now respected colleagues. I am dedicated to passing on this gratitude by creating an environment where we can all grow together and work as a team. This will have a positive impact on both our students and the patients they will care for in the future, ensuring compassionate and excellent healthcare remain a hallmark of the way we provide care.”

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