Some may ask themselves, how do we draw a conclusions between art and make it relevant to our professional lives? As a medical assistant we are able to give patients treatment options as well as give them resources to better themselves; one of which could include creating art. The art work “la columna Rota” and “Henry Ford Hospital” by Frida Kahlo have inspired many to channel their pain and suffering into creating art.
There are many ways patients cope with pain, recovery, and illnesses, some of which can be seen as healthy or unhealthy coping mechanisms. Among many things art has been seen as a positive alternative to unhealthy behaviors. “It is especially important for older adults to alert and consult with their providers when consuming an alternative substance or when considering engaging in an alternative therapy. Many older adults take prescription drugs for a variety of health problems, and there could be harmful effects because of the interactions of the prescribed medications with the alternative substance. Tai chi, massage therapy, yoga, art therapy, music therapy…” (Delmar, 775). This source is a great example of how patients can utilize art as an “outlet” during difficult times. Frida Kahlo herself expressed her pain and suffering after her accident through creating art.
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Like many of Frida Kahlo’s paintings, La Columna Rota (The Broken column) illustrates Frida Kahlo’s pain and suffering. When Frida was 18 years old she was involved in a horrific train accident that caused major spinal injury. The injury she sustained from her train accident changed her life. Not only did she have physical pain, she endured a lot of emotional pain. The Frida Kahlo organizational website entails the artwork of Frida Kahlo without giving an explanation of the symbolism of her work. However, by having no analysis of the artwork it did give room to give your own interpretations (“Frida Kahlo”, 2010). Her steel brace was what held Frida’s shattered spine up. A crumbling column represents her injury, a shattered spine. The nails in her face and body represent her agonizing pain she endured after her accident. Unlike most of Kahlo’s work, she illustrated a self portrait with a barren landscape and without people or animals to show her emotional pain, her isolation. I believe she demonstrated that she was dealing with her physical and emotional pain alone. Patients can find consolation in the fact that they are not alone, others have also had difficulties in life.
Another famous painting by Frida Kahlo is the Henry Ford Hospital. In the painting Henry Ford Hospital, Frida Paints herself in Henry Ford Hospital lying on the bed after a very slow and painful miscarriage. This picture represents how Frida felt when she was having a miscarriage.The organizational website frida-kahlo-foundation.org demonstrated both Frida Kahlo’s work of art as well as a detailed assessment of the art. There are six objects in her artwork, one of which is the son her and Diego were expecting. Her painting mimicked her version of medical illustrations for example, an orchid represented an uterus, a machine that did her abortion, a pelvis to show the damage from her accident, red ribbons as an umbilical cords (one connecting to a stomach), and a nail to symbolize how slow and painful the miscarriage was. “In almost all these works, it is not so much the literal meaning of the image that matters, but rather its symbolic significance.” ( Sayre, 124). I have seen art to be a healing method for patients dealing with pain and hardship much like Frida kahlo herself.
Art and humanities can prepare us for a healthcare career because they allow us to think creatively and make us aware of others cultures through historical context. Being in the medical field, positive interactions with patients can affect their whole health care experience. Qualities of a great health care provider include, empathy, non judgement and respect of others beliefs/ cultures.
Both works of art by Frida Kahlo express pain and suffering that many patients may deal with. From pain and injury caused by an accident or perhaps a devastating miscarriage, these pieces of art can allow us to understand what a patient may feel or in a sense help patients cope.
References
- Dahl, B. M., Morris, J. A., & Rein, A. P. (2014). Competency manual to accompany Delmar's comprehensive medical assisting: Administrative and clinical competencies. Page 775
- Frida Kahlo. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2019, from https://www.frida-kahlo-foundation.org/Symbolism
- Sayre, H. M. (2019). Discovering the humanities. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- The Broken Column, 1944 by Frida Kahlo. (n.d.). Retrieved May 10, 2019, from https://www.fridakahlo.org/the-broken-column.js
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