Published: July 28, 2023
Written by: Sarah Lonbay
The research team: Sarah Lonbay, Steve O’Driscoll, Jess Dougherty, Carole Southall, Pat Higgins.
This participatory arts-based project was designed to explore the concept of safety and what it means to people who have experienced mental health problems and abuse. Two separate groups worked to co-create artwork that reflected what safety means to them. The two pieces, titled “Peace in a Bubble” and “Creating Sanctuary” explore several themes representing what safety means to the creators. The workshops offered an inclusive space for people to share their views and ideas, and to play with and explore the materials, learning new art techniques to support the development of the piece. Here is what the creators had to say about the experience and the artwork that they created.
Reflections on the workshops
We felt initially apprehensive as people may not have done art since school. Some of us felt it was exciting to try a new medium to add to a list of experiences. The theme of safety was initially hard to quantify.
As a concept or art installation, people felt it was a simple question but tricky to answer; the struggle was how to transpose one’s feelings onto the canvas. Everyone’s understanding of safety generated a lot of ideas. People felt that safety was often taken for granted until it was impacted on by something. We felt supported and encouraged to express our ideas in a free and unrestricted way.
Throughout the sessions we felt valued and supported. Also, having an opportunity to work with an artist made it a learning experience. Two separate groups created two pieces of artwork: ‘Peace in a Bubble’ and ‘Creating Sanctuary’. Please take your time to look at the artwork and reflect on what you see before you read on to see what the creators had to say about their work.
Peace in a bubble
“A canvas showing a vision of safety. Co-created in a safe space.”
The subject matter of safety highlighted a lot of discussion from people’s anxiety and embarrassment of having needs of safety from a male perspective. Importantly, safety for people had a massive impact on security.
Throughout the discussions and the actual art installation we looked at a journey in the countryside; significantly isolation within a rural setting was seen as a positive experience, where in a more urban setting it was seen as a negative.
The mountains represent strength and individual power. The sun warmth – representative of coming out of the dark of the trauma we have experienced. Its light could be a metaphor for strength and courage. The colourful sound wave represents the importance of music in a journey.
The balloons signified letting go and the important people in our lives. The letter spoke of hope which is something we all need. Significantly every person was represented in the finished product which enabled a sense of power, control and importantly cooperation and achievement.
On behalf of all the participants we would like to say thank you to all the facilitators for giving this unique opportunity to express ourselves and to RECOCO for exhibiting our work.
Creating Sanctuary
“We invite you to appreciate our vibrant colours, before you lift the lid on our traumas and make a judgement”
This artwork represents all of us. It was a privilege to work together. We were gentle and supportive with each other.
The colours in the border represent us all and acts as a barrier to keep out danger. We’re not totally in sync, but we support each other.
The red is spiky because that’s our last defence; we’re lovely and soft and feminine, until the danger level gets too high. The white represents our need for uncluttered space. Our lives are messy so we need to create neutral space for peace and calm.
The colours in the middle represent our mess and our heads at times. There is power in the turmoil.
We all love flowers. They represent the outdoors and nature. The flowers in the corners shows that we are open to love – we still reach out to other people. The daisy chain will eternally link us all – we have done this and it will always be a memory now.
Final comments
At the end of the workshops the creators came up with some questions that they would like to ask viewers of the artwork. If you would like to take part in the research and answer the questions, please click the link below. Full information about the research is provided before you can access the survey.
https://sunduni.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d59pSvEYpNZuVCK
This project was funded by the UKRI Participatory Research Fund, via the University of Sunderland. If you would like to know more about the project, please contact Dr. Sarah Lonbay : (Sarah.Lonbay@Sunderland.ac.uk).
#VisionOfSafety #ParticipatoryResearch