COLOMBIA

Art Therapy at ArtBo: Schedule Yourself with an Exhibition Exploring Introspective Healing

By María José Cogollo M.

Five artists recognize in art therapy a method of expression for the healing of the spirit

Photography of the last stage of Caliptra, a work with an introspective journey by the artist Viviana Gaviria. Courtesy.

Art therapy is a tool that is based on the application of psychotherapeutic techniques to different artistic processes that mostly involve the active or passive participation of people, who become key and indispensable pieces in the development of the work.

It is this interesting technique of artistic expression that will be present reflected in an exhibition in the Open San Felipe circuit, which can be appreciated until October 6 at the Raum house/Taller 2 (calle 74A # 20c-59) of 11:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
The artistic meeting takes place within the framework of ArtBo Week, considered one of the most important events in the sector in Colombia and Latin America.

There will be five artists in charge of taking the viewer on a journey, in which, through various techniques such as photography, painting, collage, among others, they will show the result of a work with healing energy, which starts from themselves and in which they make the spectators and students participate, so that open channels of emotional strengthening and development of creative fields. Below we present each of them:

Viviana Gaviria - Photography 'Caliptra'

This artist from Santa Rosa de Cabal (Risaralda) and resident in Spain, will present her project 'Caliptra', with which she explores the analogy between human spiritual growth and the growth of plants. “This apex area where the calyptra is located is the first layer that covers the root, directing its movements, its orientations and responses according to the conditions of the environment where it is located,” explains Gaviria, who also leads performances in Ibiza, where he brings together people around healing through artistic expression.

Likewise, he adds that the search for his art is a non-linear journey and that in the case of 'Caliptra', he deepens spiritual growth through four stages where he guides the actors in his photographs through a process of introspection:

“The first, 'Radical Underground', is based on finding the calyptra that covers me. Then it goes through the 'Elongation that transmutes', that is, when you begin to grow, to transmute. This is similar to plants because they have senses like humans and so, for example, if there is light for a side, the plant grows towards where there is light; But in addition, it has been proven that as there is more external stimulation with high vibrations, the plant grows more beautiful and grows towards the side where that vibration is. So the same thing happens with humans, in that Elongation that transmutes all the senses are used to be able to transmute, what you see, what you eat, what you hear, all of that is important, and as you observe all of this in your body, you start to use your internal senses.

Photograph of the Elongation stage of Transmuta, part of the work Caliptra by Viviana Gaviria. Courtesy.

That is where another part of the work comes in, which is the 'Baptism of the snake', because for me this animal is a changing totem, which sheds its skin and is constantly changing, so with the baptism a welcome is given to a new life. The last step is ‘Radical Blooming,’ which is when you found this being that has light and darkness but can now see them.”