Exhibition explores art as a tool for mental well-being

The mental health and emotional wellbeing of men and boys is at the heart of an art intervention and ongoing exhibition titled ‘Mindful Maestros’ currently on display at Goethe-Institut Namibia.

The exhibition presents the fruit of a six-month long project which used art to explore themes of identity, mental health, masculinity and self-perception with a group of male adolescents from Pioniers Boys School.

Featuring a collection of self-portraits, abstracts and mixed media artworks depicting the adolescents’ inner worlds, ‘Mindful Maestros’ was created by Impact Tank’s Dr Ndapandula Hamunime.

“Art has always been a powerful tool for healing, and this exhibition invites us to open the conversation on mental health, particularly for young men, in a creative and empowering way,” says Hamunime in a press statement.

“As the creator and manager of this project, I am deeply proud to see the voices of these young men come to life through their art. ‘Mindful Maestros’ is not just an exhibition; it is a platform where mental health, self-awareness and identity converge,” she says.

“Through this collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Namibia and local artist Nambowa Malua, we’ve created a space for these students to share their emotional journeys and challenge societal norms around masculinity.”

Born out of the need to address mental health issues in Namibia, particularly among men, ‘Mindful Maestros’ is also responsive to Namibia’s high rates of suicide.

In 2023, the police reported that a total of 1 542 Namibians took their own lives between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2023. This figure equates to over one suicide per day, 82% of whom are men.

Intent on equipping young men with the creative tools to assist in managing their mental health, ‘Mindful Maestros’ hopes to prevent unchecked downward spirals and tragic loss of life by providing a safe space for self-expression.

“Most people, when they are going through something, end up making the wrong decision because they don’t know who to tell or how they can free their mind from what they are going through, mostly men,” says participant Uendjisuvera Kavezepa in an impact statement.

“That’s the reason why the art classes were introduced to us. In my experience, it is something that can help you, if you take it seriously,” he says.

“I believe that I can get good at it with time and, through art, I can help people who are facing challenges and going through the storms of life.”

Purposeful, relevant and promising in its featured young artists whose artworks are for sale, ‘Mindful Maestros’ will be on display at Goethe-Institut Namibia until 13 March.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com