EXHAUST TO BREATHE AGAIN: ART THERAPEUTIC WORK WITH ARTISTS IN TIMES OF WAR

Abstract

Psychological support for Ukrainian artists who remain in Ukraine is relevant in wartime and is necessary for the further restoration of the cultural and artistic sphere in order to overcome the consequences of the collective trauma of war in society. The aim of the article is to prove the effectiveness of the art therapy program of the “Forum of Ukrainian Chaos” project for Ukrainian artists who suffered from the war. The art therapy modules of the program of four types of art therapy – visual, musical, dance-movement, media art therapy – united artists from different cultural sectors and aimed to stabilize and harmonize the emotional state of the participants, exchange visions and experiences, remove restrictions, provide an impetus for creative search, and establish contacts between them. To assess the changes that occurred due to participation in the art therapy program, a study was conducted, constructed as a quasi-experiment with a pre- and post-test. The survey used 7 indicators of the vitality scale, self-assessment of physical and psychological discomfort, and open questions. Comparative analysis (of vitality indicators, psychological and physical discomfort, etc. before and after the intervention) was carried out using the Wilcoxon test. The overall level of vitality significantly increased, pessimism decreased, the ability to concentrate increased, curiosity about life improved, sleep and rest improved, and feelings of sadness decreased (statistically significant differences at the p < 0.001 level). The level of physical discomfort, back discomfort, headache, psychological discomfort significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Most artists described their participation in the «FUKH» using yellow, orange, green, blue colors, which are associated with activity, energy, joy, vitality, peace. Most participants, according to their self-assessments, were able to express their emotions, feelings, sensations using sounds, movements, art materials, learned something new about themselves, learned to feel their bodies better. The results of the study prove the effectiveness of art therapy in working with artists.