ART FOR THE SOUL

Art rewires the brain. The ability of the creative process to heal, empower and transform our daily lives is massively ignored by many.

My wife, a consultant psychiatrist, and I are co-founders of the Mind Café, a Mental Health Service with an innovative approach to contemporary medicine. This service has been in existence in the UK for over 15 years. My practice in the Mind Café is called ‘Art for the Soul’.

I have unknowingly self-medicated with the visual art form since I was 6 years of age. In my early years, I had to find ways of surviving the trauma of not having my biological parents around until I was 8. Obsessive engagement with the visual arts did it for me.

A SHORT HISTORY

I use the term self-medicate retrospectively because at the time I had no idea I was using art as an antidepressant. I am obsessed with art as nothing else brings me so much comfort.

So, I studied Art at the University of Benin, specialising in Graphic Design. I worked in advertising as a Visualiser and Art Director in the early 1980s.

In 1987, I had an epiphany that changed the direction of my art practice. I started using art to meditate on the Scriptures and also taught the technique in workshops.

Things began to take dramatic turns in my art practice as some people who had been on antidepressants for some time began to experience instant recovery as they used some of the techniques taught in my workshops.

This was preceded by a personal experience of recovery from a depressive episode while intentionally using a collage activity as an intervention.

We pioneered a unique psycho-education that complements the art intervention known as The G.Y.M. (Guard Your Mind). A Faith-based cognitive approach to managing the mind. The skills taught in both the G.Y.M. and art workshops are transferable and will be available as services provided by Adumaadan Gallery for optimal health and performance.

Stimulation is what the brain needs. Problem solving to the brain what aerobic exercise is to the body.