Melinda Šefčić

Visual Art as Therapy

13.12.2016.

Bačva Gallery

The project presentation – Tuesday, 13.12. at 7.00 pm.

The exhibition is open on Tuesday, 13.12. from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm.

 

Drawing as a factor and a reflection of changes in psychosocial functioning of children in the visual expression of the artist

“Visual art as therapy: Drawing as a factor and a reflection of changes in psychosocial functioning of children in the artistic expression of the artist“ titled research piece of artwork by Melinda Šefčić was performed as part of pre-research work for her doctoral dissertation titled “Re-humanisation and re-esthetization of hospital space: An example of artistic design of a hospital department. “

The artwork topic was exploring the possibilities of applying expressive therapy in the prevention group work with children and in the artists own artistic creation. The optimal approach to the study of art as therapy has, for over a hundred years, been the subject of professionals’ dispute: educators, artists, psychologists and philosophers. As we know, many psychologists, psychiatrists and artists engaged in questioning the connection of art and psychology and have been psychoanalysing artists and works of art. Art therapy is one of todays most frequent form of psychotherapy. Based on the idea that one individuals characteristics reflect in their works of art and that the creative process can be a mean of expression and therapeutic communication.

Melinda has, over a course of three years of research work, been included in the preventive group work with children of primary school age as the conductor of the artistic part of the program. Preventive group work with children is carried out using a clearly structured approach, which is primarily intended for early prevention of behavioral disorders and psychosocial functioning of children and young people. The goal of working with children is that by using very rich complex of methods and techniques, such as targeted interactive games, elements of socio-drama and creative techniques such as art, music and drama expression; a child expreses, draws and rids itself of repressed negative emotions, but also detects and brings to contiousness positive qualities which it was not aware of, awakening and empowering positive qualities and strenghtening those personality structures and responses that the child possesses, but which it was not aware of.

The practical part of this artwork is focused and limited to drawing as an expression form of shaping emotions and as a way of communication. Drawing holds an important role and place in therapeutic work, so in this study, in addition to children’s drawings emphasis is also placed on the artists own autonomous artistic creation.

The study was aimed at assessing and determining how the group work with children has affected and how much it has reflected in the visual arts of the artist, but it also aims to asses the visual impact of the conductor / artist on the drawings of children / users. Changes in the artwork during the survey period were unpredictable and possible and they were exclusively related to the development of art as a form of recording the experience of each group meeting. The artworks were created through a process of expressing and shaping emotions and complex experiences, which has been reflected on the surface of the paper. This research work is not aimed to achieve high aesthetic level but to achieve spontaneous experience reflection as required by and practiced in the Art therapy.

The concept of the exhibition, namely the public presentation, is the integration of artwork in a complex whole, so that all the elements could be analyzed together and so the research may come to an end. The results of this research work will be exhibited as part of the doctoral dissertation of Melinda Šefčić titled “Re-humanisation and re-esthetization of hospital space: An example of artistic design of a hospital department”.

 

Melinda Šefčić was born in Subotica, Serbia in 1986. In 2012 she graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Department of Painting. She is currently a PhD student of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. She is the organiser and moderator of the art project  C.R.T.A. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad, and also has participated in art festivals and residencies abroad. She is a member of the Board of the Croatian Association of Artists.

The exhibition is financially supported by the City officefor Culture, Education and Sports Zagreb.