Drawing out emotions, one colour at a time

Registered counsellor K Aahrthi employs Pastel Nagomi Art as a gentle method to assist participants in examining their emotions and feeling more at ease expressing them. In Kuala Lumpur, some emotions are challenging to articulate when one is seated across from strangers and asked to convey them verbally. For Aahrthi, color and paper can sometimes facilitate that initial step.

Known as the "art of hope," this approach requires no advanced drawing abilities. Participants employ color using basic techniques, with the primary focus being on the process rather than producing a flawless picture. In Malaysia, counselling and therapy are still viewed as intimidating by some individuals, Aahrthi informs Bernama.

Hence, she utilizes this setting to enable them to convey their emotions in a relaxed manner. Initially encountering Pastel Nagomi Art during a workshop, Aahrthi envisioned using it with her own counselling clients. Later, she perceived potential for expanding art therapy from the counseling room to community environments. One of the initial obstacles often involves convincing people that they do not need to be artists.

Participants commonly exhibit reluctance and state they cannot create art, but by the conclusion of the session, they typically acknowledge their capacity to produce artwork, Aahrthi explains. Some participants have discovered that engaging with colors and images facilitated their exploration of themselves from perspectives they had not contemplated.

Since 2024, Aahrthi has facilitated workshops throughout the Klang Valley for over 100 participants, encompassing senior citizens, children, and residents of People's Housing Programme (PPR) communities. She is particularly enthusiastic about rendering these sessions accessible to those who might not otherwise engage in counselling or wellness activities.

Aahrthi also acknowledges that there is frequently a discrepancy between discussing mental health and taking concrete steps to address it. "People talk extensively about mental health today, but the most crucial aspect is whether they take action," she notes. Provisioning the tools and space to discuss mental health within a community setting is vital before an individual seeks counseling services, she emphasizes.

Ensuring the workshops' affordability poses another practical challenge. Aahrthi generates funds through the sale of keychains and interactive mental health tools to assist in covering art supplies, enabling some sessions to be provided at no cost or a minimal fee. Her aspiration is to eventually expand the program beyond the Klang Valley, focusing on senior citizens and lower-income communities.

For participants such as Khor Jun Yi, the allure lies in dedicating time to introspection. The 28-year-old informs Bernama that the workshop enabled her to feel more connected to herself. Fellow participant S Shankari appreciated learning the stories behind others' artwork and acquiring techniques she could practice at home. The 30-year-old found the session so straightforward that she is eager to attend additional workshops of a similar nature.