On November 19, 2024 at the Department of Creative Arts and Art Education of Faculty of Education Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra (DCAAE FE CPU in Nitra) was held a lecture entitled Semantics of the Image - Poetics of Significant Places. The art therapy and self-art therapy function of art in inclusive activities utilizing art as a research method (Art-Based Research). This was followed by an art workshop called „First page...“, focused on the implementation of creative activities as a form of self-art therapy and a means of self-development of students.

Both the lecture and the workshop were part of the planned lectures by domestic and foreign experts within the KEGA project no. 020UKF-4/2024 “Innovation of university training of art teachers in connection with the needs of 21st century society”, project " (responsible researcher: doc. PhDr. Adriana Récka, PhD.), the main goal of which is to innovate the content of the university training of future art teachers, in line with the current challenges and needs of educational practice, in the context of the needs of 21st century society, which result from several objective economic, technological, as well as cultural and social determinants. In today's challenging times, the ability to self-art therapy is important especially for professions that require working with people. The teacher is exposed to pressure, which results from his duties and the feeling of responsibility for the education of pupils and students. One of the ways to relieve stress is artistic creation aimed at expressing the inner world, for the sake of self-knowledge and the development of emotional intelligence.

The lecture was presented by dr hab. Iwona Bugajska-Bigos, prof. ANS in Nowy Sącz in Poland, head of Department of Art education and visual arts within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Arts at University of applied sciences in Nowy Sącz. She was the initiator of establishing artistic education at her university, as well as developing new artistic and design programmes. In addition to teaching, she is also an active artist and exhibits regularly.

The authors of the project are university teachers and researchers dr hab. Iwona Bugajska-Bigos, prof. ANS (University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz) and dr hab. Monika Jaworska-Witkowska, prof. UP (Pomeranian University in Słupsk).

University pedagogue and art therapist dr hab. Monika Jaworska-Witkowska, prof. UP is the author of the concept Semantic of the picture and place, which is part of the international project Semantics of the Image – Poetics of Significant Places. The art therapy and self-art therapy function of art in inclusive activities utilizing art as a research method (Art-Based Research). The concept is built on the principles of social and cultural identity in the context of self-knowledge and knowledge of others, and presents the phenomenon of place as a symbol of both external and internal space. This concept can be represented artistically, and we work with terms as city - mirror, imaginary cities, my room, important place - a place that matters to me, favorite place, emotional space, somewhere - anywhere, and others. The result of the project is, in addition to research, a number of artistic works that were inspired by the ideas of the project.

The workshop called "First page..." was devoted to the implementation of artistic activities as a form of self-art therapy and as a means of self-development of students - future teachers. The participants of the workshop, female students of the 2nd year of the Preschool and Elementary Pedagogy study program, created the first page of an imaginary visual personal diary, which was recommended by the lecturer as a suitable tool for psychohygiene and art therapy, with the help of art supplies and the art technique collage. Subsequently, they presented their works in a group and answered the supplementary questions of the lecturer. The lecture was intended for students with a focus on art education or related fields and called for free, individual even intimate artistic creation, which may or may not be shared in a group. Based on the positive reactions from the participating students, we expect a natural transfer of the acquired knowledge and experience into their future school practice.

The lecture was part of the Student Days of Nitra Universities 2024, held annually in the city of Nitra, in which the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra and the Slovak University of Agriculture participate.

 

Text: PaedDr. Janka Satková, PhD., PF – Department of Creative Arts and Art Education
Photo: doc. PhDr. Adriana Récka, PhD., PF – Department of Creative Arts and Art Education

 

Published: December 3, 2024