A few years ago, a client entered my office in a fairly reactive
state after attending an art exhibit at a local college. The
works were created by children and adults who had suffered
varying degrees of childhood trauma. My client found many
of the images to be disturbing, evoking thoughts, emotions,
perceptions and beliefs that she had experienced during her
own early trauma or had since developed as a result of it.
My sense of it is that all artwork is evocative to some degree.
We wonder why Mona Lisa is smiling in such an enigmatic way.
We see an insistent and dynamic God trying to give life to
a reluctant and languid man on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel, and we are moved, sometimes to tears. We see the beauty
of Michelangelo's David and we are in awe. We make up a whole
movie about "The Girl with the Pearl Earring." Art
can move us to fall in love, even if only temporarily, stir
feelings of anger or even hate. Art can make us feel sad,
proud or ashamed (as in "Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima");
it can make us feel happy or depressed (as in "Bring
in the Clowns").
Our reaction to art is very subjective. One person just loves
a piece that another person absolutely hates. (This is fortunate
for those artists who want to sell their work, as it means
that sooner or later somebody will probably like their creations
enough to buy one of them.) We call this "taste,"
and explain it by saying that "tastes differ." However,
taste doesn't arise out of thin air; it arises out of experience.
Our subjective reactions depend on what we have experienced
in our lives. They depend on the images we carry in our heads.
For those of us with PTSD, some of these images are not so
good, often impacting every aspect of our lives. We see insults
where none exist. We see attacks where there are none. We
see criticism, blame, shame and betrayal. We perceive these
things in our daily lives, and we see them in the art that
we look at.
One day in group, one of the participants brought in a number
of sketches that he had done early in his adult life when
he was in a fairly agitated and disturbed state of mind. We
utilized those images in much the same way that we utilize
the essays that I write, i.e., to evoke the demons that lie
buried deep within us so we may face them, fully embrace them
and deprive them of their hold on us. These images were created
as art, but having sprung from the mind of one who had suffered
childhood trauma, others with similar histories were able
to resonate with them and experience them as evocative. The
participants who were there for that group session still reference
those works of art to this day.
It can in fact be a therapeutic experience, beyond the obvious
pleasure of seeing the artworks there, to go to an art show
or a gallery. Look at the images! See what thoughts, memories
and emotions they evoke and use this as a springboard to further
process your trauma history. Any such experience can help
your recovery from your trauma move forward.
Desired Outcome:
Connect with inner images, processes, thoughts, feelings,
physical sensations and beliefs by using art as a catalyst.
Use art to facilitate making connections that help us move
forward in our recovery.
Discussion Starters:
When I look at these images, what comes up for me? What physical
sensations do I feel? What do these images cause me to think,
feel emotionally and remember? Which of my beliefs are reflected
in my responses to them? Can I think of new ways to respond
that are based less in my trauma history and more in my esthetic
sense?
John C Flanagan, LCSW
818 NW 17th Avenue, Suite 7
Portland, OR 97209-2327
503-228-7574
www.johncflanaganlcsw.com
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