At CollageMente, we understand mental health as something that allows us to have an understanding of our own being, of our own identity, to be able to relate positively to our environment, to resolve conflicts, to recognize risky situations or to enjoy what we like, among other functions. For this reason, it is essential to keep it in good shape. This is a task that everyone has to do for themselves, but sometimes there is neither the approach, nor the way, nor the right time to do it.
Why combine collage and mente (mind)?
COLLAGE IS AN ARTISTIC TECHNIQUE THAT ENABLES US TO CREATE A NEW REALITY FROM EXISTING ONES. USING CUT-OUTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, SUCH AS MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS OR BOOKS, WE CAN PRODUCE NEW VISUAL PIECES WITH NEW MEANINGS.
THIS ARTISTIC EXERCISE IS KEY TO PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH. BY WORKING FROM OUR SUBJECTIVITY, HISTORY, IDENTITY AND CONTEXT, WE ARE ABLE TO RETHINK OURSELVES, REDISCOVER OURSELVES AND REVIEW THOSE ASPECTS OF OURSELVES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT WE DISLIKE. THIS ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP AN ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATION FROM AN ORIGINAL PERSPECTIVE.
THUS, COLLAGE ENABLES US TO GENERATE DIVERSE REALITIES, VIEW SITUATIONS FROM A NEW ANGLE, PERCEIVE OURSELVES THROUGH FRESH LENSES AND RECONNECT WITH OUR EMOTIONS. ALL OF THESE ASPECTS HELP TO STRENGTHEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH.
USING EXISTING IMAGES, COLLAGE CAN BE A POWERFUL WAY TO REFLECT ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TO US AND WHAT IS WORRYING OR DISTRESSING US, WHEN WE CANNOT FIND THE WORDS TO EXPRESS THESE FEELINGS.
Conversely, there are times when we struggle to express our thoughts and feelings. These feelings remain unprocessed or unmetabolised because we are unable to verbalise them, either because it is difficult or because we cannot find the right words.
As well as capturing these feelings visually, we can explore them and place them in a specific context. Then, we can incorporate other elements to recreate the scene from a novel viewpoint. Piece by piece, we create a network of images that offer a fresh perspective on these concerns and issues.
What do we propose?
CollageMente is a platform that proposes to work on mental health using the collage technique on three levels:
1.
Using the artistic discipline of collage as a tool to address personal mental well-being, through exercises to reflect on our qualities, our strengths, our identity, our concerns or our fears, and above all to be able to build a general framework of well-being that strengthens our mental well-being.
We develop this through institutional workshops and courses, such as the online course Mind, Literature and Collage (Mente, Literatura y Collage), which is taught every year at UNED, National University of Distance Education, a prestigious university from Spain (UNED from its initials in Spanish).’
2.
Providing spaces and open calls on various issues relating to mental health. For example, on 10 October, we held an open call to mark and raise awareness of World Mental Health Day. Everyone was invited to take part by submitting a collage inspired by this theme.
We then share the submitted works via our platforms, highlighting the diverse perspectives and experiences surrounding mental health, emotions, thoughts and suffering. Furthermore, the collage format opens the door to people who may not frequently engage with visual art.
For this reason, collage is also a powerful means of communication. Each call for entries sparks numerous interactions between participants, showcasing the need for these open dialogues to continue.
3.
Promoting collage as a tool for generating knowledge in academia and fostering ethical reflection in various professional contexts.
This is possible because the collage technique challenges assumptions and broadens perspectives in a way that is difficult to achieve using traditional research or reflective methods. It reveals aspects of analysis, experience and reflection that would otherwise remain hidden.
