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"Just..." – A healing art space amidst the modern pace of life.
In modern life, people are increasingly prone to stress, feeling unbalanced, or lost. But amidst this fast-paced flow, there are still small, quiet initiatives that nurture hope and provide spiritual support. The "Just..." community handmade project, initiated by Bao Sang Psychological and Artistic Space, initially began as a craft initiative using fabric to support employment for women in special circumstances and autistic teenagers.
Alongside the crafting activities, the project also organizes therapeutic painting experiences, notably: Mandala and Zentangle drawing, color pouring painting, and paper pulp sculpting.
The "Just..." project is a non-profit initiative that prioritizes the creative journey over the product itself. One of its standout activities is meditative drawing of Mandalas and Zentangles. Mandalas, ancient symbols of balance, are often represented by symmetrical circles. When applied in art therapy, Mandalas and Zentangles become tools for people to turn inward.
With repeating circles or patterns, each stroke is like a steady breath, gradually drawing the mind away from the chaos of daily life. The beauty here lies not in the finished picture, but in the state of stillness during the practice. Many young people share that after drawing Mandalas, they feel their minds lighten, as if they have been reorganized. The rhythmic repetition of Mandalas and Zentangles becomes a therapy for "cleansing" the mind, bringing people back to simple balance.
Ngan Ha, a participant in the experience, shared: "Drawing Mandalas makes me feel like I'm living in my own creative world, separate from the pressures of work. Just by focusing on each circle, I feel all my worries fade away."
The Mandala paintings were completed during the hands-on sessions.
Unlike Mandalas, which emphasize order, color-filling paintings encourage a sense of freedom. The artist doesn't control each brushstroke, but allows the colors to blend and flow naturally.
The ambiguity of the colors is what makes it special. It forces participants to let go of their desire for control, allowing their emotions to be unleashed. Each color palette becomes a flow of mood: sometimes vibrant, sometimes somber, but always authentic.
The painting features splashes of color with random and free-flowing patches.
Another activity is paper mache painting. This process requires participants to knead the dough, apply layer by layer, and refine the details until the image is complete. These seemingly simple actions have a calming effect on emotions, helping to reduce irritability and anxiety.
Psychologist Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the initiator of the Bao Sang art-psychology therapy project, shared: "Using hands to shape materials creates a direct interaction between the body and mind, thereby stimulating creativity, improving concentration, and supporting the restructuring of cognitive behavior. Clay sculpting not only creates unique works of art but also represents a journey of adjustment, balance, and renewal of energy."
Participants experience a focused immersion in each layer of pulp.
Not only young people, but also older people are excited about the experience of creating mosaic art with paper pulp.
Art becomes a therapy for the soul.
All three activities don't require artistic talent. Participants don't need to know how to draw or be skillful with their hands; the important thing is to dare to try and dare to express themselves. In that space, everyone is free to create, to be listened to, and to share. The people who come to experience this are quite diverse, from students and postpartum women to families wanting their children to try their hand at creativity, or simply those seeking a moment of peace. Each person carries a story, but all leave with a common feeling: relief and empathy.
The mother and daughter get creative together with paper mache art.
The students creatively applied paper pulp to the Mandala painting.
What makes each experience special is not only the completed paintings, but also the small pieces of paper containing thank-you notes and shared feelings. This is how participants leave their personal mark and express their empathy with the creative space that Bao Sang has created.
Small pieces of paper containing thank-you notes and feelings after the experience.
The "Just..." project was launched as a community initiative and has concluded Phase 1 after creating a small community where participants can learn crafts, share, and connect. Phase 2 is planned to be implemented with the support of sponsors to expand the project and ensure its long-term sustainability.
The workshop, organized by the "Just..." project, attracted the participation of many families and young people.
Outside of the project's main activities, several art experience sessions are regularly organized at a fee of 150,000 - 300,000 VND per session. This fee is primarily intended to cover materials and maintain the space.
Whether approached from an individual or communal perspective, the three art forms of Mandala and Zentangle painting, color pouring, and paper pulp sculpting all demonstrate a special power: helping people release emotions, find balance, and inspire creativity. And perhaps, the most important thing is not the finished artwork, but the journey of self-dialogue, realizing that peace can always be found, even in the simplest things.
