While following the principle of art therapy, where the actual process of creating the artistic object is of cardinal importance and not the object itself, the Lene Thun Foundation’s method involves children and teens taking part in group projects, which offer a number of prospects, including from a therapeutic perspective.

On the one hand, the child does not feel isolated from the external world by being in hospital. On the other, the child has the chance to embark on a journey of growth aimed at building self-esteem, socialisation and gaining or rediscovering various skills.

The work of art grows and is gradually completed over the months, before being celebrated at a public inauguration party, where the cutting of the ribbon and the unveiling of the work itself create a magical atmosphere for the little artists who created it.

The growing forest.

Each and every tree, even the biggest, was once a tiny, fragile shoot which fought its way up in the face of adversity.

Now the birds sing and make their nests among its branches. The forest can be a dark, scary place to pass through in many stories and fairy tales, but it is also a place where hidden treasures are discovered, where travel companions and amazing friends come to our rescue, show us the way, light up the night and dispel our fear.

With our hands on the world.

The world is made up of many things: seas, mountains, rivers, forests and cities, people, animals and objects.
But it is also made up of ideas, dreams, fantasies, thoughts and emotions. We can therefore say that each one of us has our “own” piece of the world, a real place or a bit of freedom we have carved out where anything we want is possible: by combining works of art and exchanging ideas, we can make or “recreate” a whole world!

The giant friend.

First and foremost, the giant friend of the children and teens in our workshops is missing a colourful ceramic suit! And then a name.

The work of art is a large outline of a giant with a painted steel surface, attached to the wall. Ceramic tiles made during the workshops are attached to it using magnets.

With our hands on the world.

The world is made up of many things: seas, mountains, rivers, forests and cities, people, animals and objects.
But it is also made up of ideas, dreams, fantasies, thoughts and emotions. We can therefore say that each one of us has our “own” piece of the world, a real place or a bit of freedom we have carved out where anything we want is possible: by combining works of art and exchanging ideas, we can make or “recreate” a whole world!

The giant friend.

First and foremost, the giant friend of the children and teens in our workshops is missing a colourful ceramic suit! And then a name.

The work of art is a large outline of a giant with a painted steel surface, attached to the wall. Ceramic tiles made during the workshops are attached to it using magnets.

The wishing tree.

The pretty and colourful Wishing Tree is an embodiment of the imagination, hope, bravery and will to live of the many little ones staying in hospital. Children from all of the Foundation’s workshops create their own ceramic hemisphere and print their wishes onto it.

For three years in a row, starting in 2015, the hemispheres were copied by hand, one by one, to make the children’s wishes “fly” in Italy’s most stunning squares, including St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

Coordination

Lucia Adamo

Director

lucia.adamo@thun.it

Linda Perlaska

Fundraising

linda.perlaska@thun.it

Paola Tamanini

Institutional Activities Coordinator

paola.tamanini@thun.it

Chiara Fassini

Institutional Activities Assistant

chiara.fassini@thun.it

Each year we propose a theme common to all the permanent workshops. This theme is then customised by each facility and by each individual child, making it unique.

In addition to these projects are those dedicated to the special workshops, which vary according to the setting and the specific collaborations.

Art projects

The growing forest.

With our hands on the world.

The giant friend.

With our hands on the world.

The giant friend.

The wishing tree.

Coordination

Lucia Adamo

Linda Perlaska

Paola Tamanini

Chiara Fassini

Come on kids, have a go! This is how Michelangelo started out!