ITB and Ruang Empati Jiwa Hold “Art as Therapy”, Promoting Mental Health Awareness Through Art
By Syabina Er Said - Mahasiswa Teknik Dirgantara, 2020
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id — As a part of the Bipolar Awareness Week 2025 commemoration, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), in collaboration with Ruang Empati Jiwa, KESRA West Java, and various community and educational partners, held a week-long exhibition and series of events titled “Art as Therapy: The Healing and Comforting Power of Art.” The event took place from May 2 to 7, 2025, at Soemardja Gallery, Faculty of Art and Design (FAD) ITB.
The program aimed to raise public awareness of mental health issues, particularly bipolar disorder, by positioning art as a medium for expression, healing, and emotional recovery. The exhibition featured artwork from diverse groups, including:
• Students from Proklamasi dr. Moestopo Elementary School, Terang Bangsa Cirebon Middle School, Pasundan Cimahi College of Education and Teacher Training, and Fitrah Insani Integrated Islamic Elementary School
• Children affected by the January 2024 earthquake in Sumedang, whose art illustrates trauma mitigation and psychological recovery
• Emotionally powerful pieces created by female inmates of Sukamiskin Correctional Facility, Bandung, who participated in art therapy sessions as a form of inner dialogue and renewed hope.
In addition to the exhibition, the event also featured educational sessions, creative competitions, mental health screenings, and a safe space for empathetic listening and sharing of personal experiences.
According to Dr. Teddy Hidayat, SpKJ(K), founder of Ruang Empati Jiwa, the event highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing mental health awareness.
“Let us support mental well-being through digital-based services, while also encouraging broader community involvement via social media,” said Dr. Teddy.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ira Adrianti, M.Sn, a lecturer in the Fine Arts Program at FSRD ITB, emphasized that art is more than just an aesthetic object—it is a means of emotional healing.
“This event enables participants to release repressed negative emotions and rediscover optimism. It should be recognized as a valuable tool for fostering a society with a higher quality of life,” she stated.
Through this therapeutic, art-based approach, ITB and Ruang Empati Jiwa hope the event will serve as a collaborative model for addressing mental health issues in a more open, inclusive, and sustainable manner.
Let us gather, learn, create, and share—because mental health is a right for all.
Reporter: Reporter: Syabina Er Said (Aerospace Engineering, 2020)
Translator: Malika Fatima Lawe (Microbiology, 2022)
