Cécile Reboul
Founded in 2012 in Paris by a former patient, the Skin association helps cancer patients rebuild their lives through artistic prowess.
Patient-talent pairs create works or performances, which Skin presents in prestigious locations. Skin thus recreates the connection, helps the person to project themselves, to surpass themselves and to reinvent themselves. Skin is aimed at people affected by cancer or in remission, and caregivers. Cancer is a terrible disease that affects body and mind. It does not just leave its marks in the flesh: even when in remission, it continues to isolate the affected individuals from the rest of society. After all the heavy-going treatments and operations, they become invisible members of society. This leads them to question their place, their role, and loneliness sets in since no one seems to be able to understand. They are alive, but cannot easily return to life.
It is, of course, always possible to move forward towards healing, to rebuild oneself, to regain self-confidence. But this requires them to feel good, physically, mentally, emotionally. However, creativity has incredible virtues in this area: the WHO, for example, concluded in 2019, after analysing more than 900 scientific publications, that art has a very positive influence on physical and mental health. Hospitals that invest in art therapy reported an improvement in motor skills and emotional stimulation. For neurologist Pierre Lemarquis, everything happens as if “art caressed our brains”. To help these people recover from cancer, Skin has given itself a mission: to provide them with an enriching artistic framework, a caring and judgment-free space, where they can be themselves and rebuild themselves through creation. A framework that allows them to meet people who can listen to them and propel them back to life. A setting that boosts their confidence through beauty, and which soothes through humour and lightness.
The artists who work with Skin have a natural approach to art therapy, without being therapists: they offer safe space for patients to let their creative juices flow freely, where they are not held accountable. The goal is to let go, through pleasure and sharing, to be serene again. Skin brings together patients and talents. These creative pairs devote themselves to the development of works of art and performances, promoted by Skin in prestigious locations. In this way, Skin serves as a sounding board: it is crucial to show as many people as possible what life is like post-cancer, and to pay particular attention to this public health subject.
Skin can be shed: this is a process that allows for self-transformation as well as psychological and emotional healing. Patients and former patients at Skin often talk about lasting healing through shared beauty. Once recovered, they can then help new patients.
Cécile Reboul
Founder of the Skin association. Named Femme de Santé 2020 by the Femmes de Santé collective, she published her methodology at the Fifth International Resilience Congress. She supports people in remission from cancer, but also patients with metastatic cancer.
More informations: associationskin.org
