Seminario L’arte Come Cura | Università di Bari

Seminar at the University of Bari
In the present time, where fragility and uncertainty inhabit daily lives, the need for alternative languages capable of embracing human experience in all its complexity has become increasingly urgent. Among these, art presents itself not as an escape, but as a space of meaning, healing, and reconnection. The seminar "Art as Healing," which will be held at the University of Bari on April 28, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, arises from this awareness: art can become a transformative tool, capable of bringing to light the unspoken, giving form to the invisible, and contributing to the psychological and relational well-being of individuals and communities. In this context, the entire world of IKOS is included, the first European school for a four-year specialization in psychotherapy, recognized by the MIUR since 2004, which integrates the value of expressive practices as complementary tools in the therapeutic journey. This innovative approach centers the person as a whole – body, mind, and emotions – and has received numerous accolades over time in the training and clinical fields. The initiative presents itself as a multidisciplinary meeting moment where psychology, philosophy, art history, and artistic practice dialogue to explore the possibilities of art as a tool for awareness and healing. In this scenario, artistic practice – whether image, sound, body, or gesture – becomes a means to give voice to what often remains submerged in everyday life. It is a space where the individual can express themselves without necessarily having to explain, inhabiting their complexity without forcing it into simplistic translations.

The meeting will begin with Prof. Rosario Antonio Polizzi, a medical doctor, coordinator of CTS School of Medicine at the Municipality of Gallipoli, and President of CTS of the IKOS School of Specialization in Psychotherapy.

Participants include:
- Prof. Maristella Trombetta, lecturer in Philosophy and Criticism of Visual Arts at the University of Bari, who will address the relationship between aesthetics, symbol, and thought;
- Prof. Daniela Poggiolini, psychologist and President of IKOS, who will reflect on art as a tool for self-exploration and deep listening to personal experiences;
- Carla Cantore, art therapist and professional photographer, who will provide insight into the power of art therapy as an essential practice;
- Giuseppe Carlo, art historian and gallery owner, who will offer a historical-critical reading of art's role as a mirror and agent of society;
- Prof. Cristina Principale, lecturer in Psychology of Art, who will propose a reflection on the relationship between creativity and psychic processes.

With the valuable participation of Cecilia Fontanesi, PhD in Biology in Neuroscience, Dance/Movement Therapist supervisor (BC-DMT), movement analyst (CMA), whose research combines science, art, and body in a sensitive and integrated approach to healing.

Dr. Francesca Pilò, psychologist and psychotherapist EAP, trainer in NLPt, and organizational director of IKOS Ageform, will also intervene, discussing the value of training in psychotherapy as a transformative experience that bridges theory, clinical practice, and creative languages.

The meeting is open to students, professionals, faculty, researchers, and anyone interested in reflecting on the human, educational, and therapeutic potential of artistic experience.

USEFUL INFO
Seminar: "Art as Healing"
When: April 28, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Where: Aula Magna, University of Bari
Entrance: Free
www.pnlt.it
0805212483 / 3756310548
Contact: Marialessia Antonacci
Organized by: IKOS – MIUR-accredited Training Institution
In collaboration with: University of Bari
Web: www.pnlt.it/