Portrait Masks, Appropriated Space, and an Overseas Art Experiential: Nature as Critical Catalyst in the Practice and Training of Art Therapy

Article Information

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2021) 7(1):59–70 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2021/7/6

Portrait Masks, Appropriated Space, and an Overseas Art Experiential: Nature as Critical Catalyst in the Practice and Training of Art Therapy

肖像面具，挪用空间与海外体验式艺术学习：自然作为艺术治疗实践和培训的关键催化剂

Abstract

This article asserts that there are current trends in the practice and training of art therapy that are influenced and inspired by technologies, space, and art. Culture enriches these intertwined constructs demanding that practice and training are duly informed, especially within the contexts in which these are applied. The article is consolidated through a practitioner-based reflective account of the author’s experience of leading a weeklong overseas trip with postgraduate art therapy students from Singapore to Bali, Indonesia. Acknowledging the multilayered processes involved with experiential learning, the focus pivots around one structured and supervised art experiential within an appropriated space in nature. Portrait masks were constructed, worn, and photo-documented within the space. Participant understanding of technologies, space, art, and artmaking were challenged, leading to enriched discourse around these constructs and how best to integrate these emerging trends within their own practice and training, as well as their identities as artist and art therapist with consideration to culture.

Keywords: art therapy, technology, portrait masks, space, Southeast Asia.

摘要

本文认为，目前艺术治疗的实践和培训趋向于受到技术、空间和艺术的影响和启发。文化丰富了这些互相交织的概念，特别在应用技术、空间和艺术的情境下，要求以适当的方式让人们了解实践和培训。这篇文章基于实践者反思性的描述，对作者带领艺术治疗研究生从新加坡到印度尼西亚巴厘岛进行为期一周的海外旅行的经验进行整合。认识到体验式学习所涉及的多层次过程，文章的重点围绕着在自然界一个适当的空间里进行的结构化和督导性的艺术体验。参与者制作、佩戴肖像面具，并在空间内进行拍照记录。参与者对技术、空间、艺术和艺术创作的理解受到了挑战，引发了围绕这些概念以及如何最好地在自己的实践和培训中整合这些新兴趋势的丰富讨论，并且以文化为考量论述了作为艺术家和艺术治疗师的身份。

關鍵詞：艺术治疗，科技，肖像面具，空间，东南亚