Art therapy

Art therapy
VIMALA SENEVIRATNE



Associate Professor Stephen Jambunathan with some of the exhibits.


Anger raged


Rainbow

A unique exhibition shows how art helps to heal the emotionally injured soul. VIMALA SENEVIRATNE takes a journey into the mind of the mentally ill



PAIN, sorrow, fear, guilt, hallucination and delusion have found an outlet in something quite simple - paintings and sketches.

The collection of 100 artworks that brighten the otherwise plain walls of the Annexe Gallery at the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur is a window into the minds of mental health patients.

This first Malaysian Art in Psychiatry exhibition, themed “Journey into the Minds” is held in conjunction with the World Mental Health Day on Oct 10. It is organised by University of Malaya’s Department of Psychological Medicine and Janssen Cilag, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

The exhibition is an important milestone in mental health public awareness and showcases the positive results of art therapy in the treatment and rehabilitation of mental health patients.

The patients, whose ages range from seven to 53, are from Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Seremban General Hospital, Selayang Hospital and Kuala Pilah Hospital.

According to the Malaysian Psychiatry Association, one out of every 10 people suffers from mental illness ranging from depression, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. “There is still a stigma associated with those seeking psychiatric help. We hope to educate the public, that not all those suffering from mental illness are violent. Through this exhibition we hope to boost the self-esteem of the patients,” says Associate Professor Stephen Jambunathan, the main force behind the exhibition.

“Art is their tool to communicate their feelings through imagery, to connect with the outside world. As you can see, some of them are very good artists.”

Art therapy is used in most hospitals in treating or healing the mentally disturbed patients. “As art is a creative process, it allows the patients to focus on their creation which in turn helps to contain the turmoil in their minds. It helps them explore personal issues.”

As you browse through the exhibits, you cannot help but appreciate the imagination, the emotional tension and skill that emanate from the images produced by the patients.

One patient, a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder, has several images of the sky, sun and rainbow as well as a portrait of a mother and child in bright colours.

A youngster has drawn a picture of his dream home - a peaceful and safe environment he longs for. “You can understand what this child is trying to tell you - the longing for a loving and safe home environment. The child comes from a difficult home environment and was found to have been abused by the maid,” says Jambunathan, a consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist.

There are also sketches of brooding figures, a single eye peering through dark surroundings, swirling lines in sombre colours, a self-portrait of a young patient with stitch marks running from her left forehead to her cheek - images that depict the turmoil, anxiety, anger and fear in patients.

“It’s not all doom and gloom for these people. There is hope for them that with the right diagnosis, care and treatment they can eventually assimilate into main stream society,” says Jambunathan.

Proceeds from the sale of the paintings go directly to the artist. There will be interactive workshops throughout the duration of the exhibition which ends on Oct 24. The free workshops today are at 11am and 4pm and from Monday – Friday at 12pm.
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