Madeira Friends donate art piece to São João de Deus health
From Spray Paint to Support: When Art Meets Mental Health 🌈 — Year 2022
In 2022, Wanderlust, the world’s largest mindfulness and wellness event, arrived in Madeira for the first time — and Madeira Friends** was right there**, stepping into the wellness spotlight in a way we never had before. Locals, internationals, creatives, wellness pros — everyone came together in one beautiful, chaotic, connected moment.
Our community members didn’t just attend — they led.
From breathwork sessions and dance lessons to creative workshops and connection circles, our international members like Inga Howe, Sini Ninkovic, Mia Racikova, Luis Daio and The Nomad Escape brought their energy, experience, and love for personal growth to the Wanderlust.
For Madeira Friends, it was the first time participating in such a globally recognized wellness event — and it was beautiful to see the local and international community blend into the vibrant, heart-opening vibe that Wanderlust is known for.
Something Was Blooming in the Background
What happens when you combine a graffiti artist at a global wellness event?
You get something bold. You get something beautiful. You get Flourishing— an art installation born from color, connection, and directed towards mental health.
As people meditated, danced, and connected, Timeq_one, also known as Tiago Rodrigues, was creating a live mural — a bold, abstract floral explosion titled “Flourishing.”
Where the Wanderlust energy was outward — active, expressive — Tiago’s art brought in a moment of inner reflection.
When art and mental health are combined, the story of the artist and the art itself can serve as a powerful tool to raise awareness about topics that are sometimes forgotten, stigmatized, or misunderstood and to give voice to mental health, trauma, and healing.
“Flourishing” isn’t just a pretty word. In psychology, it means to feel good, function well, and be engaged with life. In this artwork, it meant a blooming, colorful explosion of hope, with the word “Flourishing” glowing bright in white at its center — surrounded by floral-inspired bursts of abstract joy.
Mental Health Day: Taking the Art Where It Matters
On World Mental Health Day, Madeira Friends took the “Flourishing” piece to a new home: The São João de Deus Health Center in Funchal.
The goal? To share a burst of encouragement, color, and gratitude with the healthcare professionals who’ve been on the frontlines of healing for decades.
And they didn’t go unnoticed. The team was welcomed by patients, volunteers, and staff — including the center’s director, Eduardo Lemos — with open arms.
Sini Ninkovic, who works for BetterUp, a U.S. company that supports mental health and personal development, also joined the visit. It led to a meaningful exchange between him, the local care team, and others in the group.
Art That Speaks. A Community That Shows Up.
This initiative was more than a mural. It was a living reminder that art can heal, that connection matters, and that mental health isn’t a side topic — it’s part of all of us.
And once again, Madeira Friends brought together people from all walks of life — locals, nomads, artists, dreamers — to remind us all:
We flourish better — together.
Have a look at the behind-the-scenes of the art piece here
Have a look at how much fun we had at the Wanderlust here