The workshop, created to stimulate creativity, encourage the expression of emotions, improve mental well-being, and promote socialization and communication among participants, was structured by drawing on the project materials.
A mixed group of mentally fragile people and pensioners passionate about working with clay participate in the workshop. The activities developed aim at social inclusion through the creation of an artifact and the story with digital photography.
The participants, supported by the tutor, the expert, and the other participants, acquired basic skills in working with clay and the use of digital photography as a means of communicating emotions, moods, capturing moments that are difficult to verbalize.
The participants were actively involved in the creative process, each of them had the opportunity to express themselves freely and explore their sensitivity in a protected environment.
They were guided to explore and communicate their emotions through working with clay, creating shapes and objects, expressing joy, sadness, anxiety and other emotions. This relaxing activity brought psychological benefits such as reducing stress, increasing self-esteem, increasing the sense of belonging and strengthening mental well-being.
During the course, the participants modeled their objects by hand and learned to photograph the creation of the objects and some moments of aggregation with their cell phones. The group grew during the course. Everyone had a moment of uncertainty in describing their emotions through the description of the photos, which was overcome by the friendly atmosphere that was created in the group.
This led to an improvement in the ability to express themselves and interact with others. The photo of the object created, for some, was the starting point for telling moments of their life.
From each person’s story and the reflections within the group, it is clear how the tactile work with ceramics and the visual work with photography have fostered a connection between mind and body.
Ceramics, being a solid and physical material, represents a form of resistance, while digital photography captures more evanescent and intimate moments, linked to emotions, all of which has helped participants to explore and communicate their inner world.
