The deeper the cut, the sweeter the pain.

I have come to see art not just as something to practice and perfect, but as a way of understanding — a language older than words, one that speaks to places that logic could never reach.

When I watch a child press blue beside red, or sweep paint across the paper in a sudden burst, I see emotion being spoken in a language beyond words. Neuroscience confirms this intuition: studies show that engaging in creative play activates the brain regions responsible for empathy, regulation, and self-awareness (Nelis et al., Personality and Individual Differences, 2009). The child’s paintbrush, then, is less a tool for pretty pictures and more a tuning fork for their inner world.

As parents and caregivers, we can honor this by shifting our gaze. Instead of asking, “What is it supposed to be?” we might ask, “How did it feel to make this?” That subtle change invites children to linger in the emotional process of creation rather than rushing toward the judgment of product.

Much like 17th-century painters who carefully built up their images layer by layer, patiently waiting for each glaze to dry before adding the next, we can also benefit from embracing patience in our own lives. This approach teaches us to accept that growth and progress often require time and careful attention, rather than rushing to see immediate results.

In daily life, this method means creating dedicated spaces at home that emphasize the act of experimenting and exploring rather than producing polished artwork. For instance, setting up a station with modeling clay or building blocks allows children to manipulate materials and bring their ideas to life through hands-on play. Alternatively, providing materials like watercolor paints or textured collage papers offers different avenues for creative engagement. Using a variety of tools such as digital drawing apps like, 'Kids Doodle', and 'Drawing with Carlor', and home made craft from left overs supplies encourages children to experiment freely, without the worry of correctness or perfection.

This approach emphasizes consistency over correctness, aligning with Friedrich Froebel's educational philosophy. Froebel, the founder of the kindergarten, believed that "play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul." His innovative use of "Froebel Gifts" such as geometric blocks and pattern activities, encouraged children to explore and express emotions through play.

This method fostered not only cognitive skills but also emotional and social development. Thus, art becomes more than an extracurricular activity, and time after time it serves as a vital practice for emotional and mental well-being.

And perhaps the deepest lesson is that when a child paints, they are not simply representing the world; they are rehearsing how to be in it. Every color mixed, every line drawn, every smudge embraced becomes practice for the delicate art of handling human feeling. We, as witnesses, are invited not only to applaud but to listen.

🌟 Deeya Hanna: A Trailblazing Force in Art & Healing! 🎭✨

From captivating theatre stages 🎭 to pioneering digital storytelling 🌐, Deeya Hanna’s journey is a powerful blend of creativity, resilience, and innovation. 💡 As the founder of Cathartic and a partner with SCAVAI, she uses art to heal hearts 💖 and bridge cultures 🌍. With global collaborations and a bold vision, Deeya proves that passion and purpose can transform lives. 💪✨

The war in Ukraine has been raging for more than a year, displacing millions of people and destroying countless cultural sites. But some Ukrainian actors have not given up on their art and their homeland. They have taken their stories of war to the stage, performing in a play that depicts the human cost of the conflict.

The play is called Special Operation, named after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. It was written by Anatoli Zinovenko, a well-known actor back in his homeland. He and his wife Tetyana – who also stars in the play – were forced to flee Ukraine ten days into Russia’s invasion, after seeing “rockets and helicopters swirling” above their Kyiv home.

“It was impossible to understand, no one believed that there would be a war, but it happened,” said 62-year-old Zinovenko, who has starred in several Ukrainian films, series and performances. The actor had not written a play before, but when he and his family found safety in Denmark, he said that "everything that was in my heart, it all came out on paper".

“Everything I heard, saw and understood. I wanted to put it all on paper,” he said.

The play tells the story of two Ukrainian women who become the sole survivors of a Russian attack on their village. A Russian soldier, injured and abandoned by his platoon, breaks into their home, forcing the women to decide whether to offer him help or exact revenge. Zinovenko, who plays the Russian soldier, calls it a tale of "heroism, humanity and spirituality".

“The women, who have switched places with this occupier, have the opportunity to kill him, but they do not kill him. Why? Because they are not capable of it,” he said.

The play opened in Denmark’s second-largest city Aarhus on Saturday evening. It is the sixteenth performance of Special Operation in Denmark. Organisers described the play as building a “cultural bridge” between Ukraine and Denmark, which has welcomed some 30,000 Ukrainian refugees since the war began in February 2022. Profits will be donated to humanitarian organisations working in Ukraine.

“We in Denmark only know about this war from the media, from high electricity prices or high food prices,” said the head of the Katapult Theatre, Torben Dahl. "What we can do is make people in Denmark aware of this situation on a more human level".

According to the UN cultural agency UNESCO, over 250 cultural sites have been damaged in the war including the Mariupol Theatre, destroyed by an airstrike while sheltering civilians. “A lot of people of art are now at the front. Many of my acquaintances are fighting,” said Zinovenko, whose younger brother is also on the front lines. "I hope that we will perform the play not only in Denmark, of course in Ukraine as well".