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“You know art is a very powerful weapon, it can change minds, as well as being a useful support system. Art can be used to heal sick people physically and emotionally, as well as a tool for creativity and self-discovery. And everything has a meaning, every colour, every technique… it’s not just about art, it’s about discovering the inner self and the world around you through art. Having a trained and compassionate guide to help through the process is what art therapy is about.”
There are few Kenyans who when confronted with a problem, emotional or physical, think to use art to solve it. Those who use it for self-discovery, expression, and creativity are often times looked at as un-serious, or crazy. Arguably, the current education system in Kenya, with its emphasis on sciences and grades, is to blame for this backward mentality regarding the arts. It’s refreshing to meet Maria Grazia an art therapist based in Nairobi, who is using art for social change, changing the people she comes in contact with through art.
“It’s not just in Kenya that the system is flawed,” Maria explains from across the table in the cosy little banda where she conducts her sessions, “any kind of system will push people to be all the same. Kenya is one of the worst systems I have seen though. I’m not Kenyan but I worked in schools here and I realised they don’t think art is very important.”
“Some people think that art can be taught the same to everyone, that everyone can create the same thing,” Maria continues. On the table between us and around the room are toys and paper and art supplies, a place any child (or adult for that matter) could be occupied and feel safe. “No, art is to be special, it is to be yourself, it empowers you, gives you confidence and self-esteem. Being creative is helpful in everyday life, to solve problems, to adapt and cope with stressful situations. It’s very practical because to be creative you only need to use your mind, you can create our own views and change them, you can take things apart, analyse them and put them back together.”
But what is art therapy? “It’s therapy using art tools meaning colour, design, balance, space, painting,” Maria explains. “We can have different kinds of art therapy depending on which kind of problem, or which person. The tools and techniques are very important because using water colours, or oil pastels has different effects and results. I work with sculptures, collage, photography, and video as well can be a kind of therapy.”
“Art is the only language that can go through everything to the root of your emotions, and you can understand, release and can cope with them.”
Maria works with a lot of children, “We don’t know but children have a lot of problems, a lot of stress.” She emphasises that the stress can come from moving around a lot, or from wanting for nothing and thus not knowing how to appreciate what you have, or from poverty, isolation and a lack of love.
But not only children benefit from the therapeutic effects of art, adults suffering from anxiety, depression, or simple curiosity can also gain something from the experience. “Some adults want to discover themselves or their creativity; they want to develope a talent or a passion into something more useful and structured.”
Maria explains why in other cases like depression traditional therapy might not work: ”talking doesn’t go deep enough or you can’t find the words to say what you’re feeling- sometimes it’s too painful or you don’t want to talk about it. But through art, because it works as a symbol, you can say everything using colour and shape.”
Maria conducts group sessions, individual sessions, or a mixture of both.“When I work in a group I really enjoy how people start to interact with each other. Then there are individual sessions which I really enjoy because it’s just me and the client, we don’t have limits, we can go wherever we want, there is no judgement. Some people feel more free when they are alone with me, the group can be intimidating. I like to be simple and direct; sometimes this is the best way to get connected with other people.”
She ends this enlightening session with tips you can apply. “It starts with the simple things, doing what you want. Finding a space that is your own, where you are free. Parents should allow their children to have a space to feel free, to be themselves, to make a mess if they want to. This is very important having a space.”
As the creative community in Kenya grows, so should our emphasis on its variety of uses. Art therapy and art can help solve many problems and enhance our creativity and self- awareness to levels that will change how the many communities interact and grow.
Ondi Madete
