Drawing as Language and Expression of the Lived World: The Child and the Adult in Perspective

Abstract

Drawing is an integral part of childhood, yet as we grow older, we often abandon it as a form of expression, replacing it with other modes of communication. However, drawing remains a meaningful way to express ideas, experiences, and perceptions of the surrounding world at all stages of life. This article aims to understand how drawing can serve as an interpretive tool in the relationship between the individual and the world, revealing their lived-world perceptions. We adopt a phenomenological approach, seeking to grasp the meanings of individual experiences. To this end, we conducted a bibliographic review on children's and adults' drawings from a phenomenological perspective, drawing workshops with children and adults, and subsequent interpretation of the drawings produced. In summary, the drawings revealed perspectives, meanings, and modes of being, demonstrating that drawing can be a valuable interpretive tool for both adults and children.