School of Creative
Industries
Maya Tomoe Kitakado Cannon
Prior to joining LASALLE College of the Arts' MA Art Therapy programme, Maya was an art teacher and book binder in the US. She chose to pursue art therapy to broaden her skill sets as a mental health practitioner and pursue her passion for connecting with others through art.
During her time in the MA Art Therapy programme, she shared meaningful encounters with adults with special needs at a day centre and older adults in hospice care, helping them through her material-led approach and processes which draw from traditional and experimental printmaking, paper making and textile techniques.
Maya hopes through pursuing her passions, she can continue to expand her understanding of mental health and being a supportive presence.
Work
Ripples
Calligraphy paper, thread, dye, branch
65.5 x 130 cm
2024
Ripples seeks to make tangible the ritual of swimming, which sustained the artist through her clinical placement in a hospice setting. Repetitive stitches weave through the material, drawing links to how one takes a breath by breaking the surface of water. The absence of knots suggest impermanence and an invitation to let go.
Prior to sewing, the paper base was strengthened through the momigami technique. Natural tears and holes were formed in this process, leading to areas of concentrated care. The wearing down and repairing of the material captures the artist’s personal growth while journeying with individuals. Each encounter left meaningful ripples, however fleeting they may be.
Thesis abstract
Food as material in art therapy: A practitioner-based inquiry with older adults in a hospice in Singapore
This thesis is a practitioner-led account inquiring how food might be manifested within art therapy and the therapeutic implications for older adults in a hospice setting in Singapore. The exploration of food as material was approached in response to the needs and interests of clients participating in six open studio sessions within outpatient daycare services. Observations and adaptations were made through a psychodynamic and intersubjective lens further supported by the Expressive Therapies Continuum.
Through a multiple-case vignette highlighting the experiences of three individuals, the exploration of food from materiality to metaphor will be presented. Food became the starting point to draw ties to personal and cultural identities and facilitate interpersonal exchanges within the open studio space. Beyond materiality and cultural links, the manifestation of food evolved into exploring metaphors for nourishment in the open studio format. Particularly for individuals in a hospice care setting, the significance of nourishment will be expanded on through themes of reminiscence, togetherness and identity.