Creativity as a means of shaping human subjectivity according to Wiesław Karolak

The aim of this article is to present creativity as a means of shaping human subjectivity based on the art therapy practice of Wiesław Karolak. The author identifies art therapy with therapy through creativity (resp. artistic expression). Its basis is the belief in the creative nature of man. Creativity is a universal feature that constitutes every human being, therefore it is not reserved exclusively for artists. However, modern scientific and technological civilization, as well as consumerism, do not encourage creative attitudes in everyday life. Man has two ways of functioning to choose from - automatic implementation of imposed patterns of existence or conscious living of life involving independent setting of goals. In order to become a subject, that is, the source of one's actions, it is necessary to actualize the creative nature, including the dispositions responsible for creation. The program titled "Creativity supporting development", co-authored by W. Karolak, is undoubtedly helpful in this process. The author implements its assumptions during art therapy workshops, the aim of which is to form human subjectivity. He assigns a special role to expression in the field of visual arts due to his own artistic education. He often uses drawing, which he equates with thinking. By taking up creative activity - by drawing, workshop participants become aware of what was previously incomprehensible to them, and gain insight into their own emotions, which ultimately leads to self-knowledge. By discovering their own creativity in the field of art, they want to use it in their everyday experience. In this way, they transform into a conscious entity that responsibly manages its own life according to the knowledge acquired through creative exploration. Artistic expression activates creative attitudes whose distinguishing feature is "novelty". Hence, human subjectivity is expressed in productive thinking as defined by Otto Selz, which acquires a creative character in a specific social context. The publication was created based on the content analysis method.