Forming Life: Aesthetic Awareness in Mental Health Care

Abstract

Using cross-disciplinary perspectives from artistic research, aesthetic theory, and mental health care, this article discusses qualities in sensuous surroundings in mental health facilities. The background for the article is an increased awareness in aesthetic research concerning sensuous surroundings and their connection to health and well-being. However, this aesthetic awareness is only reflected to a small extent in research on mental health care surroundings. A further development of these perspectives is suggested in this article by introducing the concept of 'life form' from the art theorist Nicolas Bourriaud and the concepts of 'presentation' and 'perception' in theatrical communication from theatre researcher Willmar Sauter. These theories are discussed and exemplified on the basis of data from two mental health care wards: one from a psychogeriatric ward and the other from a polyclinic for eating disorders. Some essential qualities identified in the examples is that aesthetic environment and activity can be seen as formative to the inner state, and that different forms of sensuous activation and interaction could help patients escape communicative inhibition.

Møter gjennom mønster i filt. Narrativ og poetisk dokumentasjon som utgangspunkt for og pådriver i kunstdidaktisk praksis i en helsekontekst

“…Videre framhever de betydningen av at helsepersonell er i stand til å bruke sansebaserte strategier som en del av sin hverdagspraksis. Denne artikkelen peker dermed mot et behov for forskning i Mønster som inkluderer et helsefaglig perspektiv da relasjonelle og sosialt orienterte kunstdidaktiske praksiser har vaert lite anvendt som tilnaerming i studier som omhandler omsorgsarbeid (Berg, Christensen-Scheel & Ingeberg, 2013). I arbeidsseminaret Mønsteret redskap for ansatte i eldreomsorgen?…”