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Art became the bridge—where trauma meets healing and hearts encounter Jesus
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Gerda Liebmann
Visual Arts Mission Asia - Director
When the Lord called me to Asia, I heard Him say “use your art”. I was obedient and moved to Bangkok, Thailand even though I had no idea how to “use my art” in ministry.
Prior to the call I used my installation art as a witnessing tool in major cities in China. The art installation piece consists of a continuous line of salt that I draw on the floor. It gave me the opportunity to share, LIVE, with curious onlookers about Christians being “the salt of the earth.” I also performed piece in Bangkok on several occasions. But I felt that there must be more to my call.
When I attended my church one Sunday, I met an usher who told me she was a refugee from Pakistan, and that her family had to leave their home country because they were persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. I visited her family and her four teenage children became my first art class.
Quickly the group grew and we began to paint “body maps.” (Body maps are life sized self-portraits.) Over the course of the first year, God led me to two more groups of persecuted Christians with whom I did art classes.
Art is a wonderful way to express trauma. Often there is inner healing involved.
Even though we have done many different things in my workshops, (dyeing, printing, photography, embroidery) body maps are the most powerful and popular way of expressing trauma and have quite a therapeutic effect.
Over the 8 years I have lived in Thailand, God has opened interesting doors.
- Weekly visits to the Immigration Detention Center (IDC prison)
- Yearly workshops with a group of Thai Muslims who were suspected of insurgence and tortured in the South of Thailand.
- Monthly workshops with refugees from Vietnam, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and other places.
- One workshop at a retreat with Buddhist, Thai university students who were incarcerated for protesting for democracy.
- Biannual exhibits of their artwork in major art venues in Bangkok.
Much of the artwork has been exhibited in major art venues in Bangkok. Thousands of visitors have been exposed to the truth of religious persecution, the torture of Christian prisoners, and enduring faith in Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to give these therapeutic art workshops with so many different people groups including Muslims, Buddhists and Christians. I am curious to know who the Lord sends me to next.
When the Lord called me to Asia, I heard Him say “use your art”. I was obedient and moved to Bangkok, Thailand even though I had no idea how to “use my art” in ministry.
Prior to the call I used my installation art as a witnessing tool in major cities in China. The art installation piece consists of a continuous line of salt that I draw on the floor. It gave me the opportunity to share, LIVE, with curious onlookers about Christians being “the salt of the earth.” I also performed piece in Bangkok on several occasions. But I felt that there must be more to my call.
When I attended my church one Sunday, I met an usher who told me she was a refugee from Pakistan, and that her family had to leave their home country because they were persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. I visited her family and her four teenage children became my first art class.
Quickly the group grew and we began to paint “body maps.” (Body maps are life sized self-portraits.) Over the course of the first year, God led me to two more groups of persecuted Christians with whom I did art classes.
Art is a wonderful way to express trauma. Often there is inner healing involved.
Even though we have done many different things in my workshops, (dyeing, printing, photography, embroidery) body maps are the most powerful and popular way of expressing trauma and have quite a therapeutic effect.
Over the 8 years I have lived in Thailand, God has opened interesting doors.
- Weekly visits to the Immigration Detention Center (IDC prison)
- Yearly workshops with a group of Thai Muslims who were suspected of insurgence and tortured in the South of Thailand.
- Monthly workshops with refugees from Vietnam, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and other places.
- One workshop at a retreat with Buddhist, Thai university students who were incarcerated for protesting for democracy.
- Biannual exhibits of their artwork in major art venues in Bangkok.
Much of the artwork has been exhibited in major art venues in Bangkok. Thousands of visitors have been exposed to the truth of religious persecution, the torture of Christian prisoners, and enduring faith in Jesus Christ.
It is a privilege to give these therapeutic art workshops with so many different people groups including Muslims, Buddhists and Christians. I am curious to know who the Lord sends me to next.