Abstract
In my paper, I focus on artists who, in addition to their individual artistic activities, also lead art therapy groups. Although the social turn in contemporary art has resulted in new types of works and creative solutions, if we examine these purely from the perspective of exhibition practice, their effectiveness is difficult to demonstrate, and it often seems that this effect remains within the art scene, which is why I consider it important to explore artistic practices where the connection between community activity and personal creative practice is clear. The problem can be defined at the intersection of two areas: aesthetics and the art-psychological determination of therapy. The study uses qualitative methods and aesthetic analysis to explore how artists incorporate their experiences into their work. The research is based on 10 interviews I conducted with contemporary artists working in the fields of visual arts, dance, or music, in order to compare their therapeutic practices, results, and pitfalls with their artistic methods and the content of their artworks. The study revealed hidden aspects of several oeuvres that would otherwise remain overlooked due to the presentation-centered logic of the contemporary art scene. Gathering information is made difficult by the fact that, due to the anonymity of therapies, many stories are forgotten. The main conclusion of the research is that artists leading therapeutic practices create a circular process between society and the art scene, which greatly increases the credibility and social relevance of art projects, and therefore deserves greater attention.
Presenters
Szilvia CsanádiAssociate Professor, The Institute of Art and Design Theory, Budapest Metropolitan University, Hungary
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Art Therapy Methods, Community Engagement, Social Responsibility, Circular Creative Process
