Art Therapy – Can art really restore the mind and relieve stress? Did you know that drawing a simple picture or doing art with just a few colors can turn it into a beautiful picture? Moreover, if it is an art with a humanistic philosophy, drawing and painting can be a restorative or stress-relieving activity as well?
At least, for a short while, focusing on the image in front of us, we can come back to ourselves, let go of things, and not worry about the past or the future. What is humanistic art? What kind of skill do you need to create this kind of art? And how can it help heal the hearts of people like us who work?
In this article, we will talk to Kru Ib Wichapa Meethongklang, an Art Therapist, and Mr. Natee Churamongkol, who works in the banking and finance industry, to provide answers to this question.
No rush, but cultivate
Khun Natee said that he got to know this type of art during the turning point of working during the Covid period, when the working methods changed. He could work anywhere via the internet, making work easier and allowing for more continuous meetings. It seemed that there was more productivity, but it also caused stress to build up. When he wanted to relax, Khun Natee tried Kru Ib’s course, which uses art to relieve stress. The beginning of the course was adjusting from his always-hurried life to a slower pace. And because of this slowness, he understood that art could help him relieve stress.
Khun Natee said that during the time he was working on art, he didn’t have to think about the work, didn’t have a set time, just did it gradually like that, gradually “cultivating” the atmosphere. When he was painting flowers, he started painting from seeds, which he saw grow slowly into stems, stalks, and leaves, and got a sequence of ideas, knowing where things came from. This painting uses pure imagination, and he can put in a lot of his own personality, from the time he started painting the seeds, branches, leaves, to the flowers. It was a freedom that was different for each person. It was a happy time in a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere.
Art reflects one’s self and relieves stress.
Teacher Ib explained that this type of art is called humanistic art. It is a science that has been around for over 100 years. It was initiated by Steiner who saw a human being who has physicality, life force, thoughts, feelings, and identity. To develop a human being in balance, it can be done through 7 arts: architecture, sculpture, painting, music, language, movement, and social art (the art of living together). All of these are about health care. It is something that is accessible to the general public, not just artists. Even those who have never had artistic skills before can do it to take care of themselves because they do not look at the results, but rather at the process that leads to seeing feelings and thoughts, seeing beauty and aesthetics more, and understanding themselves more. It is an art that helps reflect oneself and society, and is becoming more widely known in Thailand.
The Essence of Art for Restoration
The process of creating works of human philosophy art has a process of creating works that promote health, called “art as therapy”, which means using the essence of art to heal or restore.
Teacher Ib said that some people call it art therapy, but some people wonder if it is for sick people. So, she called it art for “rehabilitating” oneself, which can be used by people of all ages. The course that Khun Natee experienced was for working people, where everyone would start with a single color and be with their own breathing. The initial process emphasizes slowing down, taking time to slowly appreciate the details, bringing the atmosphere or bringing peace into the picture. In a moment, they would be able to be with their own breathing.
When coloring a picture using pastel, your hands will be able to stroke the color and touch the paper, which is a development in the senses, adjusting the heart rate and concentration. From the background of the picture, it will gradually connect various natural things until finally getting a picture and entering into aesthetics.
It is a process that shows that art has no fixed rules, helping to let go more. When starting work, the process is the same, but when the work is finished, the results or works are different. No need to say, people can see the “difference”, which also helps to create acceptance.
The two poles must be balanced.
However, art is not just for taking care of yourself, because a human being has many aspects. Using art to heal the mind, take care of yourself, can also help your family and those around you. When art helps us not to be stressed, we will not make others stressed as well.
Furthermore, if we look at ourselves, everyone will see that we have two poles in everything. There is breathing in and breathing out, there is rushing and slowing, there is tension and worry and there is relaxation. We need to get some sleep and rest. Especially if you are a perfectionist at work, you may accidentally bring your perfectionism home. Letting go or going with the flow should help. Or if you are a scatterbrained person with many projects but never get around to doing them, then you will finally get started. And this art is what helps.
Those who are stressed from work, try to open your mind to art, try to imagine going back to your childhood, the age when you used to draw and color. How did you live with it then? And now you can do it too. Sometimes we may find something or some simple things from our childhood that can be used to solve problems in our current lives. Who knows?
#Happiness is growing #ThaiHealth #LifeTalk #HappyGrowth #Decoding the happiness of working people
You can choose to watch the program in YouTube format at: LIFE TALK HAPPY GROWTH: Art Therapy for the Heart
Or you can choose to listen to the program in Podcast format at:
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