“Art allows us to see the deepest, richest and most diverse movements of the human soul. What we feel in art is not a single emotion, but the dynamic process of life itself, a journey that oscillates constantly between extremes of emotion such as joy and sorrow, hope and fear, ecstasy and pain.”
German philosopher Ernst Cassirer (1874-1945) said this beautifully when exploring the relationship between art and humanity. He noted, “The whole of human culture is the product of man himself created through symbolization.” Symbolization is the core process by which mankind understands and creates the world, and art, as a form of symbolic expression, not only expresses emotions, but also profoundly interprets the complexity and diversity of life.
Self-healing is the process of embracing and comprehending the shifting meanings of daily life through art. Everyone can rejuvenate their life and sense of ease through conscious artistic creation.
In fact, art has been connected to emotions and has been used to care for the soul since early in human history. By the 1930s and 1940s, many artists, influenced by psychologists such as Freud and Jung, began to explore the role of art in the treatment of mental illness. Freud believed that artistic creation was an expression of the subconscious, while Jung emphasized the importance of symbols and archetypes in art. These theories laid the foundation for the independent development of art therapy and provided a solid psychological framework for art healing.
Art therapy is not only commonly used for stress relief, meditation, and awareness, but also to reconcile internal conflicts and help with emotional sublimation. It can address imbalances and obstacles in emotions, cognition, and interpersonal interactions, and is a powerful tool for self-exploration and self-knowledge, especially as an important companion in the transformative journey of midlife.
To help adults in our community over the age of 50 better experience the healing power of art, we are offering two free offline public art-making classes on November 8 and 15, 2024, on Fridays from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. This is an arts wellness program of creative expression through drawing and painting designed to support self-discovery and personal growth. Anyone interested can contact us at info@aslf.ca to sign up.
Art, both in the process of creating and in appreciating the work of others, helps us to explore our emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, and see things in a different light. Art healing is effective, but it requires us to be open and willing to explore the possibilities.
The aim of this art wellness course is to help participants experience the psychodynamic phenomenon of art creation, to make associations and interpretations through creation, to relieve emotions, to release the subconscious mind, and to quell inner self-criticism and self-judgment. Art as a medium is both an assessment tool and a form of self-expression. Through symbolic expression and non-verbal communication, participants are able to better understand the relationship between their internal and external worlds, thereby forming new perceptions that promote self-growth and positive change.