Therapeutic thinking in contemporary art: Or psychotherapy in the arts

The purpose of this paper is to show the possibilities of art as a political and social tool, and the possible intersection of contemporary art, community, politics, and therapy, with reference to the activities and politics of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, Spain (MACBA) and three artists of different nationalities. Some of these artists’ works can be considered social interventions, demonstrating the close relationship between community work, therapy, and contemporary art. Moreover, these social interventions frequently provide a public voice for those who usually remain unheard: minority groups, people from different linguistic or cultural backgrounds, victims of trauma, etc.While originating in a largely artistic sphere, these practices can also serve to inspire and inform those of art therapy. Often, both in training and professional practice, there is little interaction between art therapy and contemporary art. Certain artworks by Sophie Calle, the interventions, projections, and design projects by Krzysztof Wodiczko, and the therapy produced by Lygia Clark, however, exemplify how one discipline can illuminate the other. A number of works by these three artists will be analyzed in relation to their therapeutic approaches and political effects.