��һ�Թ���

Art in therapy and doctors who draw

7 June 2011 - By Deborah Minors

Elaine Hirschowitz’s business card reads ‘clinical psychologist, divorce mediator, artist’.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapist and accomplished artist, Elaine Hirschowitz (DOH 1957, MA (Clin Psych) 1980, PGDip (FA) 2005) uses art as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of emotionally or mentally disturbed patients, as well as a means to reflect on her own past, and mirror her internal processes.

Her exhibition ‘Reflect’ is on display at the Adler Museum of Medicine, weekdays 09:00-16:00, until 11 July 2011.

Perhaps reflecting on both her artistic and psychoanalytic talent, Hirschowitz began drawing herself in the mirror as a teenager. Her first qualification from Wits was as an occupational therapist. She then studied oil painting after marrying gynaecologist, Dr Sidney Hirschowitz (MBBCh 1959) and raised her three sons (two of whom are Wits medical alumni, the other, law). In the 1970s, she resolved to train as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and degrees in clinical psychology and fine art. Thirty years later, she continues to paint prolifically – in part through the Artist Proof Studio in Newtown with which she’s been involved since 1991 – while practicing privately as a psychoanalytic psychiatrist and family therapist. 

In 2005, Hirschowitz delivered a poster presentation and lecture on ‘Art as Therapy’ at the International Conference of Psychoanalysis in Durban. More recently, in October 2010 she exhibited at the Adcock-Ingram Health Professions Art Group (AIHPAG) Exhibition at the Adler Museum. 

The appeal of art to those in healing vocations is not unique to Hirschowitz. In fact, a group of doctors and dentists established ‘The Artsculapian Society’ in 1975 to cater for colleagues in these professions who create visual art. Their first exhibition was in 1976. The society’s name has evolved to reflect its broadened base. Now ‘The Adcock-Ingram Health Professions Art Group’ (AIHPAG), the group hosts an annual exhibition at the Adler Museum – this year, from 7-28 September.

AIHPAG’s current Chairman, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Chris Hammond (MBBCh 1973) says, “We have talented sculptors, painters in all media, and also exhibitors of ceramics and beadwork. I’m expecting about fifty artists to participate. It would be great if [more alumni] participate in this venture.”

Offering an explanation why so many health professionals are involved in art, Hammond suggests that people in medicine are “stimulated to creativity in this field because of the contrast between their working lives and art.”

“Many of us deal extensively with disease and death and human suffering as our main focus in life. It can be draining and the urge to create something as a balance is strong,” he says. “What we create is sometimes harsh and true to reality, but more frequently it is beautiful and light and ethereal in comparison to our jobs. It rejuvenates and prepares us for the next medical onslaught.”

Some of AHIPAG’s 200 members include plastic surgeon Dr Laurence Chait (MBBCh 1968), a professional sculptor whose commissioned busts of former Professors Emeriti adorn the Medical School.

Professor Deborah Glencross (MBBCh 1985, MMed 1992) is a largely self-taught painter and sculptor who now focuses on printmaking. Her ‘Facing Convergence’ prints are on permanent display in the Medical School foyer.

Psychiatrist/sexologist and sculptor Dr Bernard Levinson (MBBCh, 1951, DipPsychMed 1951, PhD (Medicine) 1970) trained in art in the 1970s under renowned artist, Pino Cattaneo.

Levinson said in an interview in 2010, “I have a theory about why medical graduates make art. Ours is the only faculty where, early on, you are pushed to use your right brain – the intuitive, speculative, lateral side. This is changing because of the gallop of technology into medicine.”