|11 February, 2018|
The painting was drawn by a patient (29 years). What can be the meaning of this picture where the leaves of a tree has already been shred off from its branches in her life?
When leaves starts shedding off from the branches of a tree, there is a dilemma whether to leave behind the tree in its state or start nurturing the tree again. Same dilemma goes with the patients suffering from terminally ill patients. When a person suffers from a diseases that prevails for a long time, it is not only the patient who suffers but also brings agony for the patient’s care givers.
With an aim to help the patients and their care givers to widen their expressive capabilities and to give some relief to their agonies on 10 February 2018, Bangladesh Palliative and Supportive Care Foundation organized a workshop titled ‘Healing through art’ at Dhaka Art Summit 2018 for the cancer patients.
‘Healing through art’ is a pioneering initiative from Bangladesh Palliative and Supportive Care Foundation to improve the mental, emotional and spiritual condition of patients and their care givers suffering from terminal illnesses through colors. This workshop was conducted in collaboration with the artists of SHAKO- Women Artists Association to help the patients to improve their self-esteem and coping up with their distresses.
Art tools like pencil, acrylic paint, paint palette, paint brush and canvas were used to create an art where both patients and an artist from SHAKO contributed. This art creation helped the patients and their care givers to express their unexpressed feelings.
Dr. Rumana Dowla, Founder and Chairperson of Bangladesh Palliative and Supportive Care Foundation inaugurated the workshop at the Dhaka Art Summit followed by the creating of paintings on the canvas by the patients, their care givers and the artists of SHAKO. She referred this art therapy as a 360 degree approach as the artwork will include everyone’s (patients, patients’ family members, doctors and nurses) contribution expressing each of their disguised feelings.
Nadia Samdani, Co-founder and President of Samdani Art Foundation, were present in the workshop to support the patients to celebrate their life. She mentioned, “Art is a universal language. It is for everyone from all over the world.”
Mahbub Mursalin, Chairperson and Trustee of Mahbuba Foundation mentioned, “Healing through art is a unique idea that was initiated in order to reduce the distresses of the patients.” Kanak Chanpa, renowned artist from SHAKO, mentioned that it is a great initiative to be with the people who are suffering from the distresses through this approach.
Annekathryn Goodman, Professor at Harvard Medical School said, “Art is transformative and it is a way to visually put your inner feelings giving meaning to the experience of illness.”