
Since 2014, a collaboration has developed between the public mental health establishment (EPSM) of Caudan and the Estienne workshop, a contemporary art center located in Pont-Scorff. Each year, these two Breton structures combine their expertise to organize an art therapy workshop for adult patients suffering from psychosis. The sessions last 5 days and involve a visual artist.
For the 7th edition of this artistic and therapeutic event, the two establishments called on Romain Froquet. His collaboration with the 16 selected patients was productive. The two wash houses on the site of Estienne’s workshop were used to create installations featuring artworks submerged in water. An art trail was created between these two structures by means of a taut rope, enabling patients to hang the pieces of fabric they had painted. They drew inspiration from the work of the line dear to Romain Froquet while expressing themselves according to their own personal sensibilities.
A team of healthcare workers was on hand to support the patients. They helped them manage their activities. The creative spirit of each participant awakened at different times of the day or night. Within the framework of this art therapy project, it is essential to value biological time. Giving patients the freedom to create according to their own pace helps develop autonomy.
For this project, Romain Froquet adopted a different approach to his artistic practice. In an art therapy workshop, the patient is the subject. Furthermore, he showed a genuine interest in the works created by the patients: "I met true artists. Some have been practicing art for years and present tremendous work."