Gary Culliton looks at how one Irish plastic surgeon was inspired by a mission to Cambodia to produce some stunning artwork on exhibition in Dublin
Images captured in Cambodia’ was the title of a new exhibition of paintings by Mater Hospital plastic surgeon Mr Michael Earley. The exhibition was opened on May 11 by RTÉ newscaster Bryan Dobson in the Mater’s Pillar Room. Half of the proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to the charity Operation Smile Ireland.
The inspiration for this exhibition came from a 2008 mission to Battambang, Cambodia, in which more than 100 children were treated for cleft lip and palate deformities by a team of 40 doctors, nurses, paramedics, support staff and students over a ten-day period.
Mr Earley, who is also attached to Temple Street Hospital, has worked with children with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial deformities for some 20 years. He is Chairman of Operation Smile Ireland (2007-2010) and he has been on many international missions, including trips to Belarus, Harbin (China), Settat (Morocco), Casablanca (Morocco), Battambang (Cambodia) and Hai Phong (Vietnam). He has participated in a teaching mission in Phnom Penh in Cambodia, as well as being part of the Physician Training Programme for Operation Smile in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
The surgeon took photographs during the trip and it was these that provided the basis for the pastels of this exhibition. He has tried to catch a flavour of the variety of life that exists in Cambodia – from the busy markets and hustling street vendors, to the peace and contemplation of Buddhist life. His subjects range from the floating village in Tonle Sap, to sunsets over Ankor Wat.
Since its foundation in 1982 by Dr William P. Magee Jr (a leading US plastic and craniofacial surgeon) and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 130,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organisation has a presence in 51 countries.
In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults.
Operation Smile Ireland is a part of this global alliance of foundations and chapters dedicated to providing free reconstructive surgery and ongoing care to children and young adults suffering from cleft lips and palates. It has partners in Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Russia.
About Greg Baxter