adminheart disease, tuberculosis, and influenza, amongst other illnesses.
Patients find they can escape the emotional effects of their illness through art and other creative methods.
The birth of art therapy goes back to the painter, Adrian Hill, who suggested artistic work to his fellow in-patients, while he was being treated in a tuberculosis sanatorium.
That began his artistic work with patients, who were documented in 1945 in a book, entitled “Art versus Illness”.
The purpose of art therapy is essentially one of healing. Art therapy can be successfully applied to patients with physical, mental or emotional problems, and/or diseases and disorders. Any type of visual art and art medium can be employed within the therapeutic process, including painting, drawing, sculpting, and photography.
The images produced are a form of communication between patient and their therapist – they constitute a diagnostic form of symbolic speech.
Visual art therapy stands in contrast with other kinds of creative or expressive art therapies that use dance, music or drama.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of visual art therapy, as applied to patients with memory loss due to Alzheimer’s and other diseases, stroke residuals, cognitive functioning, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, dealing with chronic illness, and aging.
Studies have also shown how the emotional distress of cancer patients has been reduced when utilising this creative process. Some women made drawings of themselves throughout the treatment process, while at the same time meditating and doing yoga. These combined actions helped in the alleviation some of their symptoms.
In the mental health profession, art therapy is being employed in many clinical and other settings within diverse cultures and populations.
Art therapy can also be found in non-clinical settings, as well as in art studios and in creativity development workshops. Art therapy is closely related in practice to marriage and family counselling.
Art therapists and other professionals use art-based assessments to evaluate emotional, cognitive, and developmental conditions.
Many psychological assessments utilise art making to analyse various types of mental disorders.
They use the creative process to help their clients increase insight, cope with stress, work through traumatic experiences, increase cognitive, memory and neurosensory abilities, improve interpersonal relationships and achieve greater self-fulfillment.
Hospitals have started studying the influence of art on patient care and found that participants in art programs have better vitals and fewer complications in sleeping.
Studies have also shown that a landscape painting in a hospital room reduced the need for narcotic painkillers and less recovery time in the hospital.
Art therapists have conducted studies to understand why some cancer patients turned to art making as a coping mechanism and a tool to creating a positive identity outside of being a cancer patient.
Women in the study participated in different art programmes ranging from pottery and card making to drawing and painting.
The programmes helped them regain an identity outside of having cancer, lessened emotional pain of their on-going fight with cancer, and also giving them hope for the future. Given our vast experiences with teaching and creating stone sculpture, painting, graphics, ceramics and other art forms in Zimbabwe, it is time we introduce and develop art therapy as an academic subject in our universities and colleges.
- Dr Tony Monda holds a PhD in Art Theory and Philosophy, and a Doctorate in Business Administration in a Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He worked as an intern in Psychology of Art and Remedial Art Therapy at the Lafayette School of Art Therapy for the Mentally Handicapped Children, in New Orleans, USA. He is an author, art critic, art consultant and a practicing visual artist
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