The paintings I make can change my life

Abstract

This article looks at themes that have emerged from the work of the author over the last three decades and their resonance with ideas advanced by Shaun McNiff. The author reflects on how the thinking, writing and inspiration of McNiff have pertained to her work as an artist and art therapist with displacement, social upheaval, trauma, disaster and conflict, inside and outside of clinical settings. The three themes addressed in this article include: transformation and art therapy, science and the arts in research, and chi. Although very different, all point to the primacy of the art and imagination that have been at the heart of McNiff’s writings for over five decades. The commitment to the arts, creativity and imagination in healing continues to challenge many lay people and professionals alike especially when science is the predominant narrative of our times.