Yojana Magazine March 2024 - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


23 March 2024
rt is an expression of the self. An artist’s 
unique perspective on the world. 
unique to the human race, art, like 
language or music is one of the few 
things that make humans differ from animals. i t 
affects the human mind or psyche in a way that is 
not clearly understood in academics. nevertheless, 
it mysteriously helps us humans understand 
ourselves in great depth, as well as connect with 
others. Psychoanalysts have analysed art as a form 
of sublimation or transformation of one’s reality into 
something useful for all. Philosophically viewed, 
“ Art washes away from the soul the dust  
of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
art is always an interpretation of the problem of 
reality—a response, a reaction to reality in which we 
are forced to live. it is criticism, praise, or correction 
of reality. Art is creating an ideal model of reality or 
sometimes, it’s critique or negation.
a rt goes beyond words 
Art has been used for recreation since man 
was living in caves. replaying and recreating 
experiences of hunting wild animals, which must 
have proven to be a traumatic event, even for 
the most heroic and capable of hunters. Perhaps 
since time immemorial, apart from recreation, the 
A
ThE POwER OF ART FOR hEALING 
AND SELF ExPRESSION 
PARUL kALA
DR DHARINI MISHRA
The co-author is a disability advocate, educator, and mother of an 18-year-old non-verbal artist with Down Syndrome. 
Email: parul.kala@hotmail.com
The author is a PhD holder, child Development, Special Educator (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and former civil Services Officer (Indian 
Information Service). Email: mishradharinim@gmail.com
Page 2


23 March 2024
rt is an expression of the self. An artist’s 
unique perspective on the world. 
unique to the human race, art, like 
language or music is one of the few 
things that make humans differ from animals. i t 
affects the human mind or psyche in a way that is 
not clearly understood in academics. nevertheless, 
it mysteriously helps us humans understand 
ourselves in great depth, as well as connect with 
others. Psychoanalysts have analysed art as a form 
of sublimation or transformation of one’s reality into 
something useful for all. Philosophically viewed, 
“ Art washes away from the soul the dust  
of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
art is always an interpretation of the problem of 
reality—a response, a reaction to reality in which we 
are forced to live. it is criticism, praise, or correction 
of reality. Art is creating an ideal model of reality or 
sometimes, it’s critique or negation.
a rt goes beyond words 
Art has been used for recreation since man 
was living in caves. replaying and recreating 
experiences of hunting wild animals, which must 
have proven to be a traumatic event, even for 
the most heroic and capable of hunters. Perhaps 
since time immemorial, apart from recreation, the 
A
ThE POwER OF ART FOR hEALING 
AND SELF ExPRESSION 
PARUL kALA
DR DHARINI MISHRA
The co-author is a disability advocate, educator, and mother of an 18-year-old non-verbal artist with Down Syndrome. 
Email: parul.kala@hotmail.com
The author is a PhD holder, child Development, Special Educator (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and former civil Services Officer (Indian 
Information Service). Email: mishradharinim@gmail.com
24 March 2024
cathartic power of art has been tapped by humans 
in their cave dwellings. c atharsis or free expression, 
is one of the best therapeutic tools known to 
psychologists. therapy uses this aspect of artistic 
expression to enable healing. unlike fine art, where 
talent and skill are used with great expertise to 
create something beautiful and incomparable, art 
therapy uses art for healing through self-expression. 
t hrough integrative methods, art therapy engages 
the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct 
from verbal articulation alone. Kinaesthetic, 
sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities 
invite alternative modes of receptive and 
expressive communication, which can circumvent 
the limitations of language. visual and symbolic 
expression gives voice to experience and empowers 
individual, communal, and societal transformation. 
t he underlying concepts are that in expressive arts 
therapies, people can understand and respond 
to their emotions and thoughts with a valuable 
new perspective, and that artistic expression is 
good for mental health. During a session, an art 
therapist works with clients to understand what is 
causing them distress. then the therapist guides 
the client to create art that addresses the cause of 
their issue. t here is no attempt to paint a perfect 
picture or achieve a neat outcome. spontaneous 
and free flowing without any judgement or target 
audience.
ironically, for this reason itself, sometimes 
trained artists may not be as successful in getting 
the benefits of art therapy easily. this is because 
they need to unlearn the training for a perfect 
output. 
c hildren and art 
Many children find it easier to express their 
emotions through drawing, painting, or other 
Page 3


23 March 2024
rt is an expression of the self. An artist’s 
unique perspective on the world. 
unique to the human race, art, like 
language or music is one of the few 
things that make humans differ from animals. i t 
affects the human mind or psyche in a way that is 
not clearly understood in academics. nevertheless, 
it mysteriously helps us humans understand 
ourselves in great depth, as well as connect with 
others. Psychoanalysts have analysed art as a form 
of sublimation or transformation of one’s reality into 
something useful for all. Philosophically viewed, 
“ Art washes away from the soul the dust  
of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
art is always an interpretation of the problem of 
reality—a response, a reaction to reality in which we 
are forced to live. it is criticism, praise, or correction 
of reality. Art is creating an ideal model of reality or 
sometimes, it’s critique or negation.
a rt goes beyond words 
Art has been used for recreation since man 
was living in caves. replaying and recreating 
experiences of hunting wild animals, which must 
have proven to be a traumatic event, even for 
the most heroic and capable of hunters. Perhaps 
since time immemorial, apart from recreation, the 
A
ThE POwER OF ART FOR hEALING 
AND SELF ExPRESSION 
PARUL kALA
DR DHARINI MISHRA
The co-author is a disability advocate, educator, and mother of an 18-year-old non-verbal artist with Down Syndrome. 
Email: parul.kala@hotmail.com
The author is a PhD holder, child Development, Special Educator (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and former civil Services Officer (Indian 
Information Service). Email: mishradharinim@gmail.com
24 March 2024
cathartic power of art has been tapped by humans 
in their cave dwellings. c atharsis or free expression, 
is one of the best therapeutic tools known to 
psychologists. therapy uses this aspect of artistic 
expression to enable healing. unlike fine art, where 
talent and skill are used with great expertise to 
create something beautiful and incomparable, art 
therapy uses art for healing through self-expression. 
t hrough integrative methods, art therapy engages 
the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct 
from verbal articulation alone. Kinaesthetic, 
sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities 
invite alternative modes of receptive and 
expressive communication, which can circumvent 
the limitations of language. visual and symbolic 
expression gives voice to experience and empowers 
individual, communal, and societal transformation. 
t he underlying concepts are that in expressive arts 
therapies, people can understand and respond 
to their emotions and thoughts with a valuable 
new perspective, and that artistic expression is 
good for mental health. During a session, an art 
therapist works with clients to understand what is 
causing them distress. then the therapist guides 
the client to create art that addresses the cause of 
their issue. t here is no attempt to paint a perfect 
picture or achieve a neat outcome. spontaneous 
and free flowing without any judgement or target 
audience.
ironically, for this reason itself, sometimes 
trained artists may not be as successful in getting 
the benefits of art therapy easily. this is because 
they need to unlearn the training for a perfect 
output. 
c hildren and art 
Many children find it easier to express their 
emotions through drawing, painting, or other 
25 March 2024
artistic forms rather than through words. An art 
therapist can use the child’s art to better understand 
the child’s emotional responses and thoughts. t hey 
can guide the child to use creativity to deal with 
emotional issues. A child who experiences grief 
and trauma usually does not have the cognitive 
capacity to logically analyse what happened 
and why it happened. in colours and shapes, he 
or she can give vent to feelings and help others 
understand his or her needs. Just to give an 
example from a typical situation – a fidgety and 
active child in kindergarten coloured his art paper 
black and brown, and titled it, “Watching a movie 
in the theatre”. After a personal session with the 
curious teacher, it was clearly understood that the 
small child could barely see the movie, beyond the 
black seat of the row in front! t he art revealed the 
source of his fidgety behaviour, and also made the 
adults understand in full reality what his world was 
like for three hours in the theatre! Without the art, 
the child would perhaps be labelled as ‘too restless 
and demanding’ by parents and caregivers. 
a rt for persons with special n eeds 
Persons with special needs, especially children, 
experience the world in a way that most of us reading 
this piece could never comprehend. navigating 
the complex world with physical, cognitive, or 
psychological challenges is a tremendous feat by 
itself. Most children with special needs face issues 
in communication. it is difficult and different for 
them to express themselves, because their needs 
and challenges are so unique.
even parents and siblings, who are closest to 
them cannot share their perspective of the world. 
Many times, children with special needs have 
behavioural problems. this is simply because 
their experiences of the world are so different 
that it’s difficult to communicate and express. t he  
so-called normal people cannot fathom what 
they’re going through, and, they cannot express 
the whole gamut of their inner world, in words, 
signs, or body language.
Art is the freedom to express without any 
right or wrong. And that’s what makes it such a 
powerful tool in therapy and healing. Any person, 
whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, physically 
challenged or gifted in any way, finds solace and 
expression in art. visually, art is painting, drawing, 
moulding, or sculpting. 
there are numerous ways in which art heals 
and helps children with special needs.
everyone has the capacity to create art in some 
form. so, children who may not be able to cope 
with societal standards of academic, professional, 
or physical achievement, can certainly produce art. 
All it requires are beautiful colours, and a pencil or 
crayons. or maybe just glue and shreds of paper, 
or just plain chalk. Any space will do – paper, floor, 
walls, grass, tiles, mud… any surface will do. 
results are immediate, so the child gets 
to experiment and feels the power of positive 
reinforcement. Just by applying a few strokes of 
paint, one can see a change in the surface painted 
upon. 
Most importantly, art gives a person control over 
the process. t he artist makes his choices and gets to 
own his work without any right or wrong answer. 
t he artist owns his work and makes his choices. t his 
boosts self confidence and encourages the child to 
experiment and express more and more. 
Art therapy can be used to help people improve 
cognitive and sensory motor function. eye hand 
coordination develops by practising with any tool 
or surface, be it finger painting, crayon or any other 
object. in an important way of learning, a child 
who is hyperactive learns to be seated still and  
focus on the task at hand. once any child learns to 
focus attention, the world of learning opens up for 
him or her. 
Page 4


23 March 2024
rt is an expression of the self. An artist’s 
unique perspective on the world. 
unique to the human race, art, like 
language or music is one of the few 
things that make humans differ from animals. i t 
affects the human mind or psyche in a way that is 
not clearly understood in academics. nevertheless, 
it mysteriously helps us humans understand 
ourselves in great depth, as well as connect with 
others. Psychoanalysts have analysed art as a form 
of sublimation or transformation of one’s reality into 
something useful for all. Philosophically viewed, 
“ Art washes away from the soul the dust  
of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
art is always an interpretation of the problem of 
reality—a response, a reaction to reality in which we 
are forced to live. it is criticism, praise, or correction 
of reality. Art is creating an ideal model of reality or 
sometimes, it’s critique or negation.
a rt goes beyond words 
Art has been used for recreation since man 
was living in caves. replaying and recreating 
experiences of hunting wild animals, which must 
have proven to be a traumatic event, even for 
the most heroic and capable of hunters. Perhaps 
since time immemorial, apart from recreation, the 
A
ThE POwER OF ART FOR hEALING 
AND SELF ExPRESSION 
PARUL kALA
DR DHARINI MISHRA
The co-author is a disability advocate, educator, and mother of an 18-year-old non-verbal artist with Down Syndrome. 
Email: parul.kala@hotmail.com
The author is a PhD holder, child Development, Special Educator (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and former civil Services Officer (Indian 
Information Service). Email: mishradharinim@gmail.com
24 March 2024
cathartic power of art has been tapped by humans 
in their cave dwellings. c atharsis or free expression, 
is one of the best therapeutic tools known to 
psychologists. therapy uses this aspect of artistic 
expression to enable healing. unlike fine art, where 
talent and skill are used with great expertise to 
create something beautiful and incomparable, art 
therapy uses art for healing through self-expression. 
t hrough integrative methods, art therapy engages 
the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct 
from verbal articulation alone. Kinaesthetic, 
sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities 
invite alternative modes of receptive and 
expressive communication, which can circumvent 
the limitations of language. visual and symbolic 
expression gives voice to experience and empowers 
individual, communal, and societal transformation. 
t he underlying concepts are that in expressive arts 
therapies, people can understand and respond 
to their emotions and thoughts with a valuable 
new perspective, and that artistic expression is 
good for mental health. During a session, an art 
therapist works with clients to understand what is 
causing them distress. then the therapist guides 
the client to create art that addresses the cause of 
their issue. t here is no attempt to paint a perfect 
picture or achieve a neat outcome. spontaneous 
and free flowing without any judgement or target 
audience.
ironically, for this reason itself, sometimes 
trained artists may not be as successful in getting 
the benefits of art therapy easily. this is because 
they need to unlearn the training for a perfect 
output. 
c hildren and art 
Many children find it easier to express their 
emotions through drawing, painting, or other 
25 March 2024
artistic forms rather than through words. An art 
therapist can use the child’s art to better understand 
the child’s emotional responses and thoughts. t hey 
can guide the child to use creativity to deal with 
emotional issues. A child who experiences grief 
and trauma usually does not have the cognitive 
capacity to logically analyse what happened 
and why it happened. in colours and shapes, he 
or she can give vent to feelings and help others 
understand his or her needs. Just to give an 
example from a typical situation – a fidgety and 
active child in kindergarten coloured his art paper 
black and brown, and titled it, “Watching a movie 
in the theatre”. After a personal session with the 
curious teacher, it was clearly understood that the 
small child could barely see the movie, beyond the 
black seat of the row in front! t he art revealed the 
source of his fidgety behaviour, and also made the 
adults understand in full reality what his world was 
like for three hours in the theatre! Without the art, 
the child would perhaps be labelled as ‘too restless 
and demanding’ by parents and caregivers. 
a rt for persons with special n eeds 
Persons with special needs, especially children, 
experience the world in a way that most of us reading 
this piece could never comprehend. navigating 
the complex world with physical, cognitive, or 
psychological challenges is a tremendous feat by 
itself. Most children with special needs face issues 
in communication. it is difficult and different for 
them to express themselves, because their needs 
and challenges are so unique.
even parents and siblings, who are closest to 
them cannot share their perspective of the world. 
Many times, children with special needs have 
behavioural problems. this is simply because 
their experiences of the world are so different 
that it’s difficult to communicate and express. t he  
so-called normal people cannot fathom what 
they’re going through, and, they cannot express 
the whole gamut of their inner world, in words, 
signs, or body language.
Art is the freedom to express without any 
right or wrong. And that’s what makes it such a 
powerful tool in therapy and healing. Any person, 
whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, physically 
challenged or gifted in any way, finds solace and 
expression in art. visually, art is painting, drawing, 
moulding, or sculpting. 
there are numerous ways in which art heals 
and helps children with special needs.
everyone has the capacity to create art in some 
form. so, children who may not be able to cope 
with societal standards of academic, professional, 
or physical achievement, can certainly produce art. 
All it requires are beautiful colours, and a pencil or 
crayons. or maybe just glue and shreds of paper, 
or just plain chalk. Any space will do – paper, floor, 
walls, grass, tiles, mud… any surface will do. 
results are immediate, so the child gets 
to experiment and feels the power of positive 
reinforcement. Just by applying a few strokes of 
paint, one can see a change in the surface painted 
upon. 
Most importantly, art gives a person control over 
the process. t he artist makes his choices and gets to 
own his work without any right or wrong answer. 
t he artist owns his work and makes his choices. t his 
boosts self confidence and encourages the child to 
experiment and express more and more. 
Art therapy can be used to help people improve 
cognitive and sensory motor function. eye hand 
coordination develops by practising with any tool 
or surface, be it finger painting, crayon or any other 
object. in an important way of learning, a child 
who is hyperactive learns to be seated still and  
focus on the task at hand. once any child learns to 
focus attention, the world of learning opens up for 
him or her. 
26 March 2024
Developing artistic expression, in some 
manner or another, does come naturally to a 
child, but it has to be harnessed. A child has to be 
honed to learn art and use the technique of brush, 
crayon, or pencil on the surface. Hand holding 
and positive reinforcement are the starting points 
of art for children with special abilities. slowly 
and with practice, can learn to effectively use the 
tools and prepare the art. Anything that pleases 
the child and brings happiness is art. t he choice 
of colour or expression is always beautiful. it is 
the extension of the child’s soul revealing itself 
outwardly, something that goes beyond words. 
used effectively, art can also aid in resolving 
conflicts and reducing distress.
the psychological process behind art as 
therapy, is to obtain a state-of-mind that exists in a 
calm and non-judgmental space. t his is the ground, 
or soil, from which healing and expression can be 
taken forward. Art gives the person the freedom to 
be himself or herself in a safe haven. Furthermore, it 
is the personal and private space to which one can 
retreat whenever in distress or troubled. it is hugely 
mentally reassuring – like having a physical home 
or shelter in troubled circumstances.
in a nutshell, here are the benefits of art as a 
source of healing and power: 
•	 aid to expression: When a person is able to 
see his or her emotional thoughts, and visualise 
them, it helps in analysing the source of such 
feelings. t his is the first step to healing.
•	 Building c onfidence and gaining control: Art 
is never ‘wrong’. this basic nature of art, gives 
the artist a sense of control and the ability to 
make a choice. 
•	 improving motor skills and cognitive 
capacity in any child: Art is a verb, something 
that has to be physically performed. this 
movement, the action by the person, and 
the outcome (which is never wrong) lead to 
cognitive and motor development as well 
as emotional regulation. Moreover, a person 
making art is naturally required to be in a calm 
and focused state of mind — a prerequisite for 
cognitive development. 
•	 creative outlet: All Art is always constructive 
and creative, as opposed to destructive and 
restrictive. it breeds self-expression which h 
leads to creativity. 
However, to conclude, it is important to 
mention that sometimes art therapy can go 
wrong too. t he most common and singular reason 
for this is forcing or rushing a child or adult into 
art. if there is no choice given to the individual, 
there is no possibility of healing. A person must 
be calm and feel safe while painting, sculpting, or  
participating in any artistic expression. Anxiety 
and fear are the most important states that prevent 
healing and development. so, art therapy must 
make the artist feel comfortable, safe and free to 
use the full power of the artistic medium, without 
the compulsion of completing anything in a given 
period of time. 
sigmund Freud, the renowned psychologist, 
described art as a powerful tool to harness 
unsatisfied and repressed emotions in a constructive 
and socially appropriate manner. Psychoanalysts 
have analysed art as a form of sublimation or 
transformation of one’s reality into something 
useful for all.
Philosophically viewed, art is always an 
interpretation of the problem of reality—a response, 
a reaction to reality in which we are forced to live. 
it is criticism, praise, or correction of reality. Art is 
creating an ideal model of reality, or sometimes, it’s 
critique or negation.
Note: All the images used in this article are made 
by Dev, an 18-year-old artist with Down Syndrome. ?
Page 5


23 March 2024
rt is an expression of the self. An artist’s 
unique perspective on the world. 
unique to the human race, art, like 
language or music is one of the few 
things that make humans differ from animals. i t 
affects the human mind or psyche in a way that is 
not clearly understood in academics. nevertheless, 
it mysteriously helps us humans understand 
ourselves in great depth, as well as connect with 
others. Psychoanalysts have analysed art as a form 
of sublimation or transformation of one’s reality into 
something useful for all. Philosophically viewed, 
“ Art washes away from the soul the dust  
of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
art is always an interpretation of the problem of 
reality—a response, a reaction to reality in which we 
are forced to live. it is criticism, praise, or correction 
of reality. Art is creating an ideal model of reality or 
sometimes, it’s critique or negation.
a rt goes beyond words 
Art has been used for recreation since man 
was living in caves. replaying and recreating 
experiences of hunting wild animals, which must 
have proven to be a traumatic event, even for 
the most heroic and capable of hunters. Perhaps 
since time immemorial, apart from recreation, the 
A
ThE POwER OF ART FOR hEALING 
AND SELF ExPRESSION 
PARUL kALA
DR DHARINI MISHRA
The co-author is a disability advocate, educator, and mother of an 18-year-old non-verbal artist with Down Syndrome. 
Email: parul.kala@hotmail.com
The author is a PhD holder, child Development, Special Educator (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and former civil Services Officer (Indian 
Information Service). Email: mishradharinim@gmail.com
24 March 2024
cathartic power of art has been tapped by humans 
in their cave dwellings. c atharsis or free expression, 
is one of the best therapeutic tools known to 
psychologists. therapy uses this aspect of artistic 
expression to enable healing. unlike fine art, where 
talent and skill are used with great expertise to 
create something beautiful and incomparable, art 
therapy uses art for healing through self-expression. 
t hrough integrative methods, art therapy engages 
the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct 
from verbal articulation alone. Kinaesthetic, 
sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities 
invite alternative modes of receptive and 
expressive communication, which can circumvent 
the limitations of language. visual and symbolic 
expression gives voice to experience and empowers 
individual, communal, and societal transformation. 
t he underlying concepts are that in expressive arts 
therapies, people can understand and respond 
to their emotions and thoughts with a valuable 
new perspective, and that artistic expression is 
good for mental health. During a session, an art 
therapist works with clients to understand what is 
causing them distress. then the therapist guides 
the client to create art that addresses the cause of 
their issue. t here is no attempt to paint a perfect 
picture or achieve a neat outcome. spontaneous 
and free flowing without any judgement or target 
audience.
ironically, for this reason itself, sometimes 
trained artists may not be as successful in getting 
the benefits of art therapy easily. this is because 
they need to unlearn the training for a perfect 
output. 
c hildren and art 
Many children find it easier to express their 
emotions through drawing, painting, or other 
25 March 2024
artistic forms rather than through words. An art 
therapist can use the child’s art to better understand 
the child’s emotional responses and thoughts. t hey 
can guide the child to use creativity to deal with 
emotional issues. A child who experiences grief 
and trauma usually does not have the cognitive 
capacity to logically analyse what happened 
and why it happened. in colours and shapes, he 
or she can give vent to feelings and help others 
understand his or her needs. Just to give an 
example from a typical situation – a fidgety and 
active child in kindergarten coloured his art paper 
black and brown, and titled it, “Watching a movie 
in the theatre”. After a personal session with the 
curious teacher, it was clearly understood that the 
small child could barely see the movie, beyond the 
black seat of the row in front! t he art revealed the 
source of his fidgety behaviour, and also made the 
adults understand in full reality what his world was 
like for three hours in the theatre! Without the art, 
the child would perhaps be labelled as ‘too restless 
and demanding’ by parents and caregivers. 
a rt for persons with special n eeds 
Persons with special needs, especially children, 
experience the world in a way that most of us reading 
this piece could never comprehend. navigating 
the complex world with physical, cognitive, or 
psychological challenges is a tremendous feat by 
itself. Most children with special needs face issues 
in communication. it is difficult and different for 
them to express themselves, because their needs 
and challenges are so unique.
even parents and siblings, who are closest to 
them cannot share their perspective of the world. 
Many times, children with special needs have 
behavioural problems. this is simply because 
their experiences of the world are so different 
that it’s difficult to communicate and express. t he  
so-called normal people cannot fathom what 
they’re going through, and, they cannot express 
the whole gamut of their inner world, in words, 
signs, or body language.
Art is the freedom to express without any 
right or wrong. And that’s what makes it such a 
powerful tool in therapy and healing. Any person, 
whether neurotypical or neurodivergent, physically 
challenged or gifted in any way, finds solace and 
expression in art. visually, art is painting, drawing, 
moulding, or sculpting. 
there are numerous ways in which art heals 
and helps children with special needs.
everyone has the capacity to create art in some 
form. so, children who may not be able to cope 
with societal standards of academic, professional, 
or physical achievement, can certainly produce art. 
All it requires are beautiful colours, and a pencil or 
crayons. or maybe just glue and shreds of paper, 
or just plain chalk. Any space will do – paper, floor, 
walls, grass, tiles, mud… any surface will do. 
results are immediate, so the child gets 
to experiment and feels the power of positive 
reinforcement. Just by applying a few strokes of 
paint, one can see a change in the surface painted 
upon. 
Most importantly, art gives a person control over 
the process. t he artist makes his choices and gets to 
own his work without any right or wrong answer. 
t he artist owns his work and makes his choices. t his 
boosts self confidence and encourages the child to 
experiment and express more and more. 
Art therapy can be used to help people improve 
cognitive and sensory motor function. eye hand 
coordination develops by practising with any tool 
or surface, be it finger painting, crayon or any other 
object. in an important way of learning, a child 
who is hyperactive learns to be seated still and  
focus on the task at hand. once any child learns to 
focus attention, the world of learning opens up for 
him or her. 
26 March 2024
Developing artistic expression, in some 
manner or another, does come naturally to a 
child, but it has to be harnessed. A child has to be 
honed to learn art and use the technique of brush, 
crayon, or pencil on the surface. Hand holding 
and positive reinforcement are the starting points 
of art for children with special abilities. slowly 
and with practice, can learn to effectively use the 
tools and prepare the art. Anything that pleases 
the child and brings happiness is art. t he choice 
of colour or expression is always beautiful. it is 
the extension of the child’s soul revealing itself 
outwardly, something that goes beyond words. 
used effectively, art can also aid in resolving 
conflicts and reducing distress.
the psychological process behind art as 
therapy, is to obtain a state-of-mind that exists in a 
calm and non-judgmental space. t his is the ground, 
or soil, from which healing and expression can be 
taken forward. Art gives the person the freedom to 
be himself or herself in a safe haven. Furthermore, it 
is the personal and private space to which one can 
retreat whenever in distress or troubled. it is hugely 
mentally reassuring – like having a physical home 
or shelter in troubled circumstances.
in a nutshell, here are the benefits of art as a 
source of healing and power: 
•	 aid to expression: When a person is able to 
see his or her emotional thoughts, and visualise 
them, it helps in analysing the source of such 
feelings. t his is the first step to healing.
•	 Building c onfidence and gaining control: Art 
is never ‘wrong’. this basic nature of art, gives 
the artist a sense of control and the ability to 
make a choice. 
•	 improving motor skills and cognitive 
capacity in any child: Art is a verb, something 
that has to be physically performed. this 
movement, the action by the person, and 
the outcome (which is never wrong) lead to 
cognitive and motor development as well 
as emotional regulation. Moreover, a person 
making art is naturally required to be in a calm 
and focused state of mind — a prerequisite for 
cognitive development. 
•	 creative outlet: All Art is always constructive 
and creative, as opposed to destructive and 
restrictive. it breeds self-expression which h 
leads to creativity. 
However, to conclude, it is important to 
mention that sometimes art therapy can go 
wrong too. t he most common and singular reason 
for this is forcing or rushing a child or adult into 
art. if there is no choice given to the individual, 
there is no possibility of healing. A person must 
be calm and feel safe while painting, sculpting, or  
participating in any artistic expression. Anxiety 
and fear are the most important states that prevent 
healing and development. so, art therapy must 
make the artist feel comfortable, safe and free to 
use the full power of the artistic medium, without 
the compulsion of completing anything in a given 
period of time. 
sigmund Freud, the renowned psychologist, 
described art as a powerful tool to harness 
unsatisfied and repressed emotions in a constructive 
and socially appropriate manner. Psychoanalysts 
have analysed art as a form of sublimation or 
transformation of one’s reality into something 
useful for all.
Philosophically viewed, art is always an 
interpretation of the problem of reality—a response, 
a reaction to reality in which we are forced to live. 
it is criticism, praise, or correction of reality. Art is 
creating an ideal model of reality, or sometimes, it’s 
critique or negation.
Note: All the images used in this article are made 
by Dev, an 18-year-old artist with Down Syndrome. ?
28 March 2024