School of Creative
Industries
Siti Mariam Binte Mohamad Salim
As a medical social worker, Siti supported patients and loved ones who had experienced traumatic loss. As a witness to such experiences, she was keen to find other methods of supporting her clients' expressions and find healing from the trauma and grief. This led her to take up the MA Art Therapy programme as she believes that the arts is an innate and powerful creative tool which can be tapped on to support healing and growth.
Siti uses a variety of media in her artistic expression, with a preference towards abstract art. Variegation is the product arising from Siti’s clinical experiences and belief that even in the most difficult situation, each one of us is capable of finding love and joy. Her artwork is an exploration with colours through plasticine as the art medium.
Work
Variegation
Plasticine
30 cm in diameter
2023
Often when we are besieged with a difficulty, we normally find it hard to focus on anything else except the problem. Variegation is the product arising from the artist's clinical experiences and belief that even in the most difficult situation, we can find love and joy. Her artwork is an exploration of colours through plasticine as the art medium.
Thesis abstract
Play in art therapy: Fostering resilience in young adult mental health and wellness within a community context in Singapore
This thesis looked at how play can facilitate the provision of art therapy in fostering resilience in young adults in a community setting. While play is a common interventive factor for children, literature on play in art therapy with young adults is limited. This paper utilised a single case study that tracked the experience of six group members over six sessions and drew on observations of the process of their artmaking, artwork, verbal and non-verbal interactions within the group setting, sharing, and input from a co-facilitator to inform this thesis. Findings revealed that play that occurred naturally and structured into the sessions created safety, provided space to have fun and laughter, supported bonding among group members and openness in sharing, and increased awareness and insights. Play can facilitate the benefits of art therapy within a group setting with young adults in building resilience.