Expressive Arts as a Way of Making Meaning and Gaining Insight: An Eastern Perspective with the “Mind”
Creative Arts in Education and Therapy February 1, 2021 Sarah Y. C. Chu
Drawing on Buddhist psychology, specifically the theory of five ever-present mental states, this article argues that art-making increases the capacity for intuitive thinking and connects feelings with logical thinking within expressive arts therapy. Part I proposes how this framework can enhance internal space for processing emotion and cognition. Part II describes a series of workshops called 'Expressive Arts as Inquiry' held in Hong Kong for adults from diverse backgrounds. Two case studies illustrate how the art-making process led participants to new ways of thinking, awareness of their mental states, and sense-making through art.