The Power of Art Therapy: Fabio’s Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing

With a career spanning 20+ years as a Marketer, Fabio is now embarking on a new journey. He has been dedicating his time and energy to heal through art. His latest exhibition, “Cura”, at the Darlinghurst Road Gallery, is his first solo exhibition and an in-depth look into his healing journey.

“Cura” (“cure” in Portuguese) features twenty-three original pieces, which document Fabio’s healing process. He started experimenting with the collage technique in his childhood, juxtaposing personal photos with celebrities’ faces cut out from magazines. As he grew older, he started using collage to process life. His relationship with art intensified during the pandemic. Just like for many of us, things got a bit rocky for Borges, who decided it was time to deal with some personal traumas that have been challenging him for years.

Two years ago, when the pandemic hit, I was working as a Marketing Manager, and art was just a project that had a small space in my life. I was apparently living a good normal life, eating well, not drinking, exercising with frequency, and even meditating. But I found myself stuck at home, consumed by other habits that were affecting my relationships and wasting my time. I thought I was a productive person, but I was trying to cover something I didn't know what it was. It was then that I realized I needed to investigate deeply.

My healing journey began with acknowledging my issues. I had to look in the mirror and face that I needed a change. The first step was to look for hypnotherapy to deal with traumas related to abuse, abandonment, and addiction. There, I was able to reconnect with my subconscious and understand feelings that were blocked in my body and were affecting all my choices in life. Through the process, I discovered other practices and professionals that led me to Ayahuasca, Mushrooms, Family Constellations, Rebirth Breath-work, and more.

By using the pain and suffering to create art, I could connect with other people dealing with the same matters and possibly help others be curious about their own traumas. So, I made a plan to transition from marketing to art full-time. The milestone was to produce my first solo show entitled CURA (from my native language, Portuguese, meaning ‘cure’ in English). I've decided to document the whole journey. The show was hosted by the Darlinghurst Road Gallery from the 23rd of February to the 1st of March 2023 presenting 23 original pieces. Every element in there represents an experience, a person, a memory or a feeling I encountered during this journey.

Meditation and breathwork are essential practices for me, and I recommend them to everyone. But I also believe that having a contemplative practice like gardening, art, cooking, or any kind of crafting can help you create something unique, personal and help you spend better time with yourself.

I also incorporate some grounding exercises like cold showers, walking barefoot and ocean swimming in different times of my day. These were simple practices that made me feel present and more connected to the world we are living in.

While you may not have all the necessary tools to manage them at first, consider seeking professional help and be brave in your pursuit of healing. Trust your intuition and embrace the journey. Remember that although having a goal is important, the true beauty of the healing process lies in the transformative experiences along the way.

I find inspiration in artists who understand their purpose in life and apply it to every piece they create. I recently met a Denver-based artist named Koko (@kokonofilter) who focuses on outdoor installations of printed images that spread hope and acceptance using the colors of the LGBTQ+ flag. Another artist I admire is Coco Wasabi (@coco.wasabi) from Vienna, who has a bold approach to feminism and pop art and uses her work to deliver a message beyond the canvas.