The international performative conferenceIn the Face of Natural Disasters, War, and Pandemics: What is the Therapeutic Potential of Art?
Palais de Tokyo, Paris

The event initiated by Institut ACTE - Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne and National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.
The Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation is a partner of the Palais de Tokyo under the umbrella of the Art & Society Circle.

Past event

May 4, 2023 (2 pm)

About the event

On the 4th of May, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, hosted an interdisciplinary conference “In the Face of Natural Disasters, War, and Pandemics: What is the Therapeutic Potential of Art?”.
The conference aimed to explore the new therapeutic functions of a work of art and the impact it can have in times of great challenges. The event fostered cross-disciplinary research involving art, aesthetics, sociology, art history, medicine, and neuroscience. Experts from various fields and speakers from leading global institutions explored how the contemplation of aesthetic objects affects the human body and improves mental health and well-being.
The event was organized in the format of three panels: "How Can Art Fix the World?", "Art and War", "Art and Care", followed by a joint discussion. The conference will close with the video-performative section "Femmes Guerrières" of the Milky Way project. Discussions were important considering the initiative of the National Academy of Arts in running the project "Rehabilitation: Art Therapy" project, supported by The Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation and Art Support Fund.
The conference sowed the seeds of new views on the functionality of art, revealed the versatility of the scientific approach to the cultural component and provided fertile ground for further cooperation in science and rehabilitation projects.

Сonference Speakers

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Yoann Gourmel

French writer and art critic, lecturer and curator at Palais de Tokyo

Yoann Gourmel shared his experience on making mediation spaces inclusive through art. He covered what it means to be engaged in cultural mediation, how to find ways for engaging adult guests and children, and provide analytical work on issues to make the space available for people with disabilities.

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Laurence Raineau

Socio-anthropologist with a doctorate in economics, conducting research in sociology at Cetcopra (Centre d'Étude des Techniques, des Connaissances et des Pratiques) at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Laurence Raineau referred to prominent artists, such as Olafur Eliasson and Marina Abramovic, who use art as a means of transforming the world and making a difference.

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Victor Sydorenko

President of the National Academy of Art of Ukraine, artist

Victor Sydorenko spoke about the challenges that Ukraine and the world had to face and the new mission of art as a tool for overcoming psychological trauma, as well as the creative freedom that is the root of art's therapeutic potential.

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Natalia Shpytkovska

Representative of the Art Support Fund, Director of the M17 CAC, Phd in Cultural Studies, Advisor to the President of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, art consultant, art manager, curator and researcher

The speech of Natalia Shpytkovska was focused on the role of art and the contribution of artists and the cultural sector to the victory of Ukraine.

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Yana Barinova

Sorbonne University graduate with a PhD in Arts and Sciences

Yana Barinova talked about implemented and upcoming projects in her current role at the ERSTE Foundation for European Policy and Relations with Ukraine. She and an artist Olga Kisseleva mentioned the project in Babi Yar and the art of researching trees as witnesses to Nazi terror.

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Marie-Laure Desjardins

Journalist and art critic, a PhD in Arts, an associate researcher at the MICA, University of Bordeaux Montaigne Research Department, and also at the ACTE Institute, Paris І Pantheon-Sorbonne

Marie-Laure Desjardins provided results of her research and polls on the importance of art and how it can change the world for the better, and presented the book “How Art Can Fix the World?”.

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Taisiya Savchuk-Polishchuk

President of the Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation and honorary patron and ambassador of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, philanthropist for culture, healthcare and environment

Taisiya Savchuk-Polishchuk and Svitlana Meteleva, a journalist and psychologist,  presented a book on art therapy for children, and shared the success and affirmative impact of this publication among children with disabilities and war victims.

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Oleksandra Khalepa

Architect, art researcher, founder of Carbon Art Residency and curator of the Carbon Community

Oleksandra Khalepa spoke about the projects of the Carbon and her own experience of collaboration with Villa Arson.

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Christelle Abou Jawdeh

PhD from the Sorbonne University of Paris, co-founder of Alamna

Christelle Abou Jawdeh presented evidence and statistics on how artistic practices have affected people during disasters: earthquakes in Sri Lanka and China, conflicts in Lebanon, Vietnam, and other countries throughout history.

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Nata Katerynenko

NGO "Art Initiative Temporary Unity of Values", responsible for the "Mytets. Rehabilitation space" project for veterans of the ATO zone and former prisoners of the so-called of DPR/LPR

Nata Katerynenko participated in the conference remotely, during which the video presentation of the Rehabilitation: Art Therapy project was showcased.

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Yulia Medynska

Institute of Psychoanalysis for Mental Health in Lviv, psychotherapist-psychoanalyst

Yulia Medynska participated in the conference remotely, during which the video presentation of the Rehabilitation: Art Therapy project was showcased.

  • .........Сonference Program

    14:00 Accreditation
    14:15 Well-being Together Through ArtIntroduction by Yoann Gourmel (Palais de Tokyo) and Olga Kisseleva (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne).
    14:30 How Can Art Fix the World? Laurence Raineau (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), socio-anthropologist. Marie-Laure Desjardins (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and ArtsHebdoMedias), art scientist, art critic and exhibition curator. Yana Barinova, project manager on European policies and Ukrainian relations, Erste Foundation, Austria. Moderator: Olga Kisseleva (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), artist-researcher.
    15:30 Art & War Victor Sydorenko (National Academy of Arts of Ukraine). Natalia Shpytkovska (Art Support Fund, M17 Contemporary Art Center), "Concentration of the Will: artists for freedom" and "Rehabilitation. Art-therapy under the war" programs. Christelle Abou Jawdeh (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), therapeutic orientation workshops at the transcultural psychiatric service of Vivantes Hospital, Berlin. Nata Katerynenko (NGO "Art Initiative Temporary Unity of Values"), responsible for the "Mytets. Rehabilitation space" project, an artistic and psychotherapeutic rehabilitation program for veterans of the ATO zone and former prisoners of the so-called of DPR/LPR. Yulia Medynska (Institute of Psychoanalysis for Mental Health in Lviv), psychotherapist- psychoanalyst. Moderator: Alla Chernetska (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), art scientist and writer.
    16:45 Coffee break
    17:15Art & CareOleksandra Khalepa, architect, art researcher, founder of Carbon Art Residency, curator “When war will end?” project, résident de la Villa Arson. Sophie Bloud (Foundation for the Health of French Students), teacher, specialist in care- studies. Svetlana Meteleva (Savchuk Foundation), psychologist. Moderator: Taisiya Polishchuk (Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation), art therapy projects.
    18:30Screening of Art-Care performance videosScreening of Art-Care performance videos featuring Victoria Ananyan, Virginie Baroux, Catherine Braslawsky, Tatiana Drozd, Olga Kisseleva, Taisiya Polishchuk, Chiara Taviani, and Simone Tribuna.
    19:00Closing drink

  • ..........Сonference Program

    14:00 Accreditation
    14:15 Well-being Together Through ArtIntroduction by Yoann Gourmel (Palais de Tokyo) and Olga Kisseleva (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne).
    14:30 How Can Art Fix the World? Laurence Raineau (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), socio-anthropologist. Marie-Laure Desjardins (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and ArtsHebdoMedias), art scientist, art critic and exhibition curator. Yana Barinova, project manager on European policies and Ukrainian relations, Erste Foundation, Austria. Moderator: Olga Kisseleva (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), artist-researcher.
    15:30 Art & War Victor Sydorenko (National Academy of Arts of Ukraine). Natalia Shpytkovska (Art Support Fund, M17 Contemporary Art Center), "Concentration of the Will: artists for freedom" and "Rehabilitation. Art-therapy under the war" programs. Christelle Abou Jawdeh (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), therapeutic orientation workshops at the transcultural psychiatric service of Vivantes Hospital, Berlin. Nata Katerynenko (NGO "Art Initiative Temporary Unity of Values"), responsible for the "Mytets. Rehabilitation space" project, an artistic and psychotherapeutic rehabilitation program for veterans of the ATO zone and former prisoners of the so-called of DPR/LPR. Yulia Medynska (Institute of Psychoanalysis for Mental Health in Lviv), psychotherapist- psychoanalyst. Moderator: Alla Chernetska (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), art scientist and writer.
    16:45 Coffee break
    17:15Art & CareOleksandra Khalepa, architect, art researcher, founder of Carbon Art Residency, curator “When war will end?” project, résident de la Villa Arson. Sophie Bloud (Foundation for the Health of French Students), teacher, specialist in care- studies. Svetlana Meteleva (Savchuk Foundation), psychologist. Moderator: Taisiya Polishchuk (Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation), art therapy projects.
    18:30Screening of Art-Care performance videosScreening of Art-Care performance videos featuring Victoria Ananyan, Virginie Baroux, Catherine Braslawsky, Tatiana Drozd, Olga Kisseleva, Taisiya Polishchuk, Chiara Taviani, and Simone Tribuna.
    19:00Closing drink

Initiators and supporters

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Institut ACTE - Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne

University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne is a public research university located in Paris, France. It was created in 1971 and there are three main domains: Economic and Management Sciences, Human Sciences, and Legal and Political Sciences. Institut ACTE is a leading research unit focused on the theme of creation. The institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between art scholars and art researchers

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The National Academy of Arts of Ukraine

The National Academy of Arts of Ukraine is a self-administered scientific organisation in the field of culture and arts, based on state ownership. The Academy supports the continuation of the glorious traditions of the Ukrainian people in the field of art, the science of art and culture, as well as art education. Founded in 1996, it has become a prominent institution for the artistic and scientific community of Ukraine.

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The Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation

The Aleksandr Savchuk Foundation has been established in 2014 as a private non-profit organisation that provides support to cancer patients, rewards and encourages leading medical and scientific professionals, promotes innovative prevention projects through a unique combination of knowledge, skills and decisive action, as well as implementing art in its healing effect on human health.

About the Palais de Tokyo

The Palais de Tokyo in Paris is Europe's largest center for contemporary creation, is effervescent, audacious and pioneering. It is the living place of today's artists. Designed in 1937 for the Exposition internationale, today it offers the opportunity to sample the pulsation of emerging art and the chance to familiarise with the creators of our time, in the very place where some of the outstanding artists of the past century were exhibited.

Partners of the event

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The Art Support Fund is an independent, non-profit, charitable, and public-benefit foundation initiated by a group of cultural workers who aim to support the development and functioning of Ukrainian culture both in times of war and peace.

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Natalia Shpytkovska Art Advisory is an art consulting agency that promotes Ukrainian culture in the international community. Founded by Natalia Shpytkovska, Advisor to the President of The National Academy of Arts of Ukraine.

Location of the event