Mental Health and Art: Art Therapy and Covid-19

 Art and emotions have been very much interconnected throughout history. Humans have used artistic expression to convey ideas and communicate through stories. Therefore, one can claim that art can have a healing effect when it comes to emotionally challenging situations and for that, art therapy emerged in the mid-20th century in Europe. 

The term "art therapy" was attributed to British artist Adrian Hill in 1942. Art therapy was also being practiced in the United States around the same time by Margaret Naumburg and Edith Kramer. Naumburg linked art to the unconscious expression of emotions and Kramer created a ground for art therapy as a legitimate education. As the practice of art therapy became more widespread, it has also gained ground as a solid psychotherapy practice. Again, in the mid 20th century, Gestalt therapists also gained interest in art therapy. For them, art is an excellent tool to articulate fears and anxieties and also a way to fulfill the intrinsic human desire to make objects. 


an image inspired by the coronavirus pandemic by Ara Parker

Art therapy use has also shown itself during the struggling times of the pandemic. Each individual has experienced the feeling of being trapped and isolated and tried to cope with these anxious feelings in their own ways. For many of these individuals -similar to what Gestalt therapists argue- the pandemic revealed the cathartic value of creating things. Arts and crafts have gained a new meaning and significance over the last two years and it is no surprise why the urge to create something increased during Covid-19: the feeling of extreme uncertainty.


"Corona on my mind" by Michele D. Rattigan

"The piece started as a doodle that morphed into an exploration of dualities: inside/outside, micro/macro, and individual/collective concerns regarding the pandemic and how our lives will forever be changed. There's a lot on my mind. Corona is on my mind." 

-Michele D. Rattigan


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