Loneliness and self-portrait

It is often said that creativity is an opportunity to be with yourself, but at the same time they forget a very interesting fact. N. V. Khamitov considered this process as follows: “Loneliness is a value and experience as a pleasure, if it turns into creativity. This loneliness is voluntarily accepted, consciously and naturally. Creative loneliness is short-term – for one inspiration, and through that it always provides an outlet for communication. Communication of this kind means, first of all, the perception of the results of creative loneliness. And one more aspect of creative loneliness as pleasure – the loneliness of creation – is the loneliness of freedom. A man of creativity, in contrast to a man of duty, is capable of a unique fulfillment of loneliness and of loneliness itself; he constantly opens himself to the world of others without destroying his own world.” Can this philosophical concept be used to overcome the feeling of loneliness in art therapy practice? I know for sure, yes.

For this, a very effective method in art therapy is self-portrait techniques. The creation of a self-portrait or a series of self-portraits can act as a symbolic form of compensation or substitution for the need to be in contact. The phenomenon of self-portrait was studied by E. P. Yurovskaya, which meant that the artist identifies himself for the appearance in front of others, for dialogue with others, for direct appeal to others, while coming into contact with himself. For art therapists, this is an interesting logistical conclusion. It can be imagined as a hypothetical assumption: the use of self-portraits to experience the feeling of loneliness. If our client explores himself in a series of self-portraits, perhaps this way he can prepare himself for meeting others. Being only with himself, the client enters into a dialogue, thus removing some of the sharpness and tension from the feeling of loneliness. Exploring this topic, you can invite the client to create a series of self-portraits that would become the basis for a more effective experience of this feeling.

So, secluded with ourselves, we will offer the client such motives for self-portraits:

1. Creative in solitude;
2. Thrilled by solitude;
3. Inspired by loneliness;
4. Creator in silence;
5. Healed in the void;
6. Resting in creation;
7. Seeker in freedom;
8. creative experience;
9. Liberated in solitude.

Of course, such motives are complex and ambiguous, and therefore their use is possible only for a highly functional client who does not have a negative type of loneliness with an experience of alienation from one’s “I”, a state of “sad passivity”, lethargic self-compassion. Creativity in a self-portrait is not only an opportunity to be with yourself, but also an option to see yourself from the outside.

PS When we stop drawing ourselves, we are healed. But sometimes healing requires drawing a new self. And how many samples, sketches, drafts, sketches and images will be for this, only the client knows.

Victoria Nazarevich 2019 ©