Amelia Lim

Project title: A Heuristic Exploration of Outdoor Artmaking and Place Attachment: An International Student's Perspective 

Amelia is an emerging art therapist from Singapore. As a practicing occupational therapist, she was drawn to the process-oriented focus of art therapy, which complements the goal-directed nature of her previous work. Amelia is interested in the inherent qualities of art-making and art observation, which she has found promote a natural sense of mindfulness and flow. In exploring her own artistic practice, she discovered the healing qualities of art as an “occupation”, a purposeful activity that can help one navigate complex feelings and experiences. This inspired her to pursue art therapy as a way to use art to support individuals' health and well-being. 

Amelia holds a strong belief in the profound impact our surroundings have on our mental health and personal growth. She sees how people adapt to, or seek out, environments that align with their comfort and identity, and conversely, how negative environments can hinder well-being. She believes that healing can be found not only within ourselves but also through a conscious and creative engagement with the world. As an international student, moving abroad meant a period of transition and disruption of familiar environments for Amelia. This personal experience sparked an interest in exploring how she could adapt and create connections to a new environment through an art therapy lens. This curiosity inspired Amelia’s research thesis, which utilised a heuristic methodology to explore how outdoor art-making influences the development of place attachment. 

The exploration of the environment as a therapeutic space is a core theme in both Amelia’s research and her art. A quote from Henry David Thoreau resonates deeply with her approach to both art and life: "Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth." Amelia values embracing natural processes and a connection to one's environment, and has a particular fondness for the natural world, which offers powerful life metaphors. Her artworks in this exhibition draw on the symbolism of nature to reflect on her research journey.  

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