SWAIP

Ethical Concern when Applying Drawing for Memory: Research Conducted in Iceland

swaip — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 12:27:31 +0000

A quantitative and qualitative research into memory drawing conducted by Ottarsdottir in 2000 is the subject of this chapter. The study was the first comprehensive research that systematically compared the impact of drawing and writing on memory functions. The memory drawing study is therefore a milestone in the history of art therapy, education, psychology and psychotherapy. Memory drawing is a part of art educational therapy which is a therapeutic and educational method invented by the author and discussed in the chapter. The ethical dilemma presented in the publication relates to the SWIPE program in that memory drawing and drawing in general may tap into sensitive emotional material, which might cause further difficulties if the drawing is facilitated by a person who is unaware of the emotional content that may emerge in the drawing process.

Art and Culture as Therapy. Website

swaip — Wed, 27 May 2020 07:17:42 +0000

Art and Culture as Therapy for Alzheimer’s is an innovative initiative from the Dementia Unit at the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca in Murcia: opens up the debate about the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) towards a new line of research where the arts join science. The project has offered new paths and forms of stimulation in order to enrich the field of non-pharmacological treatment for AD. Among the aims are: to improve patients’ quality of life and self-confidence; generate a link between the past and the present by creating bridges between existing neurons through emotional memory; to encourage an expression of empathy and to encourage interaction and communication as well as to create new measuring tools for check-up control.

The website offers access to the project’s activities and publications: “The Art of Entretelas” with the painter Chelete Monereo, “Narrating Memories” with the journalist José García Martínez, “Frásagnir minninganna with the writer Þórarinn Eldjárn”, “Murcia Tart” with the pastry chef Paco Torreblanca, “Emotions in Silence” with the video artist Bill Viola, and “MuBAM Alzheimer Project”.

Processing Emotions and Memorising Coursework through Memory Drawing

swaip — Mon, 25 May 2020 17:38:23 +0000

A quantitative and qualitative research, into memory drawing, which was conducted in the year 2000, is reviewed in the article. The results of the quantitative research showed that drawing is effective for memorising. Nine weeks after the original memorisation the children recalled the median of five times more words which they had drawn than ones they had written. The qualitative case study reviewed showed the way in which coursework learning was incorporated into art therapy within a school setting. The results of the qualitative research indicated that memory drawing can help children process their emotions relating to difficult experiences. The research shows that drawing facilitates well-being, memory and coursework learning within an art therapeutic and pedagogic framework. The research findings support the aim of the SWIPE program: to facilitate well-being through the arts and interdisciplinary practices (art therapy, pedagogy).

The Power of Art

swaip — Mon, 25 May 2020 17:35:34 +0000

The author Roland Wenninger deals with the removal of boundaries in an art institution and on the other hand shows its limits. This examination is explained using the example of Thomas Hirschhorn’s exhibition “Never Give Up The Spot” at Museum Villa Stuck Munich 2019, which was curated by the author himself. It was free of charge and was intended to be accessible to everyone. In addition, anyone could participate interactively in the installation – but also destroy it. It is an attempt to connect institutions with the street and with life through art. This example shows new approaches in museum education.

An island of stability: art images and natural scenes – but not natural faces – show consistent esthetic response in Alzheimer’s-related dementia

swaip — Mon, 25 May 2020 17:27:25 +0000

This publication has researched people with dementia who still have aesthetic sensitivity despite being severely affected in other areas, such as short-term memory loss. So there seem to be neurological skills that are still there, especially in the perception of handmade paintings. The authors speak of “islands” that have a stabilizing effect.

Arts and health: Active factors and a theory framework of embodied aesthetics

swaip — Mon, 25 May 2020 17:25:35 +0000

Koch explores the specific artistic factors in artistic therapies. In doing so, she does not limit herself to the visual arts, but also investigates other arts, such as dance, music and movement. Through the multi-dimensionality of her research into aesthetic media, she overcomes rigid classifications of the effects of artistic action. This qualitative study encourages research and the formulation of theses according to scientific criteria in the field of the visual arts and in questions of aesthetics.

Sóló, dúó og kvartett endurvarp (e. Solo, Duet and Quarrtet Reflection)

swaip — Sat, 23 May 2020 11:01:40 +0000

The participants mirror each other through the drawing and their movements in the art work Reflection (2010, 2019). Mirroring from a therapeutic point of view and how to bring its function into a partishipatory art context is the core of the art project. In the light of such therapeutic thinking the audience who participate in Reflection, mirror each other through the drawing which potentially facilitates social functions including empathy which would contribute to the aims of the SWIPE program; to facilitate Social Inclusion and Well-being through the Arts and Interdisciplinary Practices. The work is interdisciplinary as it relates to both art therapy and contemporary art.

Ein Leben mit Demenz im hohen Lebensalter. Beispiele aus der Kunsttherapie.

swaip — Thu, 21 May 2020 07:05:31 +0000

A method is described how people with dementia can be accompanied artistically and with art therapy. Reference is made to another method by Karl Heinz Menzen, in which the reconstruction of places from childhood is supported in order to stimulate emotional memory. Using examples from art therapy, it will be shown how in people of old age the memory emerges during painting and finds the language again.

’Not sure’: The Didactics of Elusive Knowledge

swaip — Thu, 21 May 2020 06:59:38 +0000

Very descriptive and philosophical article about the role of an “insecure feeling” in the development of personal knowledge and in the development of skills – in the field of aesthetic research and in the field of personal development.

Differentiation between implicit and explicit knowledge – survey about personal knowledge.

Example of how artistic teaching and creative – artistic experience can contribute to the development of knowledge, with an acceptance of insecurity as an contribution in perception and research.

Art therapy with people confused by age

swaip — Wed, 20 May 2020 18:24:30 +0000

Karl-Heinz Menzen describes and explains neurologically why people with dementia suffer from memory loss. It is the lossof the continuum of time and space (Menzen, 2008, pp. 53-59). Menzen therefore develops art therapeutic methods that activate neurological connections in the brain. Here Menzen has developed a method of reconstructing a citymap with the places of childhood together in the group (Menzen, 2008, pp. 63-65). This stimulates narrative qualities through the telling of the memories that come to life. But also the sensual haptic qualities such as drawing, building or modelling are described as particularly effective. Menzen is a luminary in the art therapeutic work with people in old age.