TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ART

Dr Charmaine Zammit, Malta
Charmaine is an artist who lost interest in producing art objects for exhibitions and buyers. Instead she wanted to help others appreciate and create art. After years of academic studies, and while serving as a Head of Department for Art in state schools, she started a doctoral research. Working with people using art was enlightening and in turn, she also experienced transformation through art. Charmaine is a philosophy student in Malta.

Transformation Through Art
Dr Charmaine Zammit, Malta

Often friends ask me, ‘When is your next exhibition?’ ‘How come you don’t sell your art?’ These questions led me to reflect on art and its relevance. Although I could never stop creating art, I no longer felt pressured to produce objects – artworks that satisfied the stereotypical role of an artist. 

Pay back time

Gradually, I started moving away from creating art for a consumerist society. Instead, it was time to pay back, channelling creativity to be of service to others. In 2014, after years of academic studies, I embarked on a doctoral research journey. My aim was to serve young adults and their holistic development.

PhD research on Transformation through Art

Part of the study involved setting up projects within three different communities. The first group were residents at a drug rehabilitation centre. The second were university students pursuing a Bachelor in Art Education degree (B.Ed.) and thus had an art background. The third project was held with inmates at a correctional facility. 

I considered the participants as research partners who shaped the study by exchanging ideas, observations and experiences while interacting with art. The study was mainly focused on engaging them with the art collection at MUŻA – Malta’s national art museum. During the process, they created and reflected on their discoveries about themselves, life and art. 

While viewing the collection, the participants were encouraged to question, confirm or reject opinions about art, life, social issues or even themselves. By providing them with tasks such as choosing a theme and developing it with reference to relevant artworks, they could immerse themselves in the experience, moving beyond what they considered to be ‘expected’ practices of observing art. 

The following examples, extracted from the results of each project, indicate the participants’ meaning-making which mostly reflect human needs.

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