Medical Observer, 23rd Nov 2010, Caroline Brettingham-Moore

IT WAS a pastel crayon in a dorm room that started a forbidden pastime for Dr Richard Wu, Sydney psychiatrist and talented artist.

From a young age, Dr Wu was forbidden from painting by his father to ensure his focus was entirely on a medical career.

It was not until he was in his third year of medical school that he revisited his passion for art

after an unknown visitor fortunately left the stick of pastel behind.

Dr Wu’s work was a clear crowd favourite at the recent AMA NSW Creative Doctors’ Network (CDN) visual arts night, where he took out the People’s Choice Award.

He presented a

collection of art works including his favourite, Summer Cat, which is on exhibit at the Art Gallery of NSW.

It is there as a part of the Dobell Prize, which recognises excellence in drawing and in which Dr Wu is a finalist.

“The cat is in fact a subject matter or a vehicle to express the mood of summer – the features of the cat are simplified to convey the mood of summer,” Dr Wu said.

As a semi-realist painter, he says his inspiration comes from his work.

“I have been increasingly fascinated by the convergence

and similarities between current psychotherapeutic theories and visual art,” Dr Wu said.

“Sadly, I only paint when I feel compelled to

express an image that has been haunting me.

“For years [I have] painted faces, figures or compositions of figures to portray depression, anxiety, traumas and existential angst.”

The AMA NSW CDN creative writing evening will be held in February 2011.

Find out more about the AMA NSW Creative Doctors Network.