TECHNIQUES

Listen and Paint – Paint and Listen

Experiment with colors and brushes to help groups reconstruct their individual and collective learning! During this exercise we listen to each other to interpret and paint our experiences.

Written by

Luis Felipe Moreno and Gioel Gioacchino

Edited by

Anna Wolrhab

Developed by

Stages:Community Building* Data Analysis* Problem Identification

Luis, a Colombian grass movements activist, came up with this technique to help participants of RecrearMagnify 2016 (Medellín, Colombia) reflect on what the two weeks of cohabiting meant to them. For the group, the exercise represented a way to reflect both individually and collectively on the meaning of our work together.

‘Close your eyes, I’ll paint your experience…’

The main benefit of this technique is the space for reflection it creates. This happens at three different levels. First with the individual reflecting about their experience, second with the other person listening and painting and lastly when the pair contemplates their collective painting.

The technique also complements verbal with nonverbal forms of communication, thereby broadening how individuals reflect about their experience. The option of using colors also sparks creativity and activates a different part of the brain.

Some of the challenges of this exercise might be the following:

Participants might feel intimidated to paint if they don’t consider themselves a good artist. It’s important to state at the beginning that they should not be worried about what the painting looks like. What’s important is that they try to represent what they hear by painting.
Since pairs are not talking, the person who is speaking can forget that someone is painting what they hear. The facilitator can gently speak reminders to the group to speak slowly and pause occasionally.