Baguio Scene: Art Heals

What is art? It may be an expression of the soul. It may be in song, poetry, drama, design, dance, crafts, writing, drawing, illustrating, painting and many other media. It is as varied as the universe and as diverse as the people. To you, what is art, really?

In mental health, art heals. Why? It is because art is an expression of emotions both liberating and what-nots. It is a coping strategy many times. It may be a form of reflection or a source of mindfulness.

Recently, Melan Ku Marquez – a Baguio born marathoner and mental health advocate shared her newly published book Mindful Lines as a catalyst for mental clarity. The process of making lines and shapes takes you to a mindful journey truly your own. Even Angie Novales Del Rosario had Doodles and Daily Devotions with ecstatically obvious – doodle arts, she had both drawing, coloring stuffs and quotes in her book which you can find in Psalms, Sunshine.

My book Musings of a Schizophrenic also has art interpretations and illustrations by Grettalou Apolinar a Tam-awan artist who is most known, now, for her crafted jewelries – Yuman Kaili. At amazon.com, I have this book with my own black and white interpretations about poems, letters, stories and anecdotes about mental health.

Do you know that some people who undergo struggles, usually process and heal through arts? Take me, for example, art has been a way of coping in my loneliest days. It also has a sense of unique expression. That’s why workshops sprouted even in various cafes in Baguio City. I, for one, do art workshops in collaboration with various artists.

Most artists struggle with mental issues even if they are not diagnosed. Perhaps, the worries of a carefree and underpaid life do lead to anxiety and depression – sometimes or many times? Add alcoholism and drug abuse, then, mental health could get worse.

I don’t know which came first the artists who have mental struggles or the persons who have mental health challenges before the artists. To illustrate myself, I used to draw and make a few calligraphy-like printing when I was young then mental health issues came. Then, I succumbed to knowing more about other art media lately. To me, art is a process. It is something we can learn and later on, find your own voice.

I joined the Awakening: Blooms of Love exhibit organized by Halik ng Likha or Zylan Yvonne Blando who is both a budding writer, mental health advocate and artist. The collection shows an impressive collection even by newbies. It focused on the calmness of nature and the serenity of looking at flowers –  flowers, in time for Panagbenga less the artificial floral facade at Rose Garden! Even plastic flowers are an art form and a sign of mental health, too? Do you agree?

Aesthetics is art. Anything that is beautiful is art. Anything that we want to express in a simple way is a process of art. Even the likes of psychologist Jojet L. Mondares of Psychstart does art therapy and mind you, beautiful plastic bag art pieces. Such is the rigorous interdependence of mental health and arts and maybe, arts and healing. Even Urban Sketchers of Baguio do arts for mental clarity.

The likes of Pasakalye and Salonpass Artist Roland Bay-an do art to lessen life’s worries. Even Tor Sagud for comics and digital illustration has taught of the relativity of lines, forms and shapes and mental clarity. Tatay Kidlat, I think, has in some way found his unique art in line with mindfulness.

Youthful George Rosales and Dani Florendo do children’s book illustrations too besides being mental health advocates. The likes of the young Tristan Buenaflor adds up to art as mental health self-expression in writing and drama. Now, correct me if I’m wrong.

Most people like me who have mental health struggles could stay sane because of mindful arts. Mindfulness is one of the aspects of Psychology that you can find also in doing arts.

You may never see art again the same way after this. Why? It is because through art, there is a form or story expressed. It may be about the artist’s struggles and sometimes, purpose.

Without art, there is no mental health. Without mental health, there is no art. Do you agree? Mental health and arts are interconnected and intertwined. Enjoy Arts, Feb-ibig and Panagbenga for your mental health! Cheers, Baguio people!