Hand Still: An Innovative Approach to Well-being Through Participatory Art

Kenji Fujii's Award-Winning Project Encourages Global Participation to Enhance Well-being

Hand Still is a distinctive project that stands out due to its focus on well-being, a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years as societal values shift from economic growth to spiritual growth. The project was born out of a well-being management class at Keio University Graduate School, reflecting the growing interest in the well-being industry.

The project is designed to be accessible to anyone around the world. Participants are encouraged to create their own hand-expressed artwork, photograph it, and share it on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The act of viewing and enjoying the artwork, as well as creating their own, is believed to enhance participants' well-being.

Hand Still incorporates four factors for improving well-being: Self-Actualization and Growth, Connection and Gratitude, Positive and Optimistic, and Independence and Self-identity. These factors are based on the research of well-being researcher Takashi Maeno and are designed to enhance well-being by increasing creativity.

The project was launched in September 2021 and continues to be active. It was presented on campus in January 2022. The project is the result of research conducted at Keio Graduate School's "Well-Being Management" program. A survey of 82 people collected through social networking services showed that 71% of the people who viewed the work were able to enhance their creativity. In addition, 15.5% of the respondents took the same action as the artwork.

Despite the challenges associated with demonstrating the effectiveness of well-being-related research and activities, Hand Still has shown promising results. By focusing on "the moment of encountering a work of art," the project was able to demonstrate a certain effect on well-being.

In conclusion, Hand Still is an innovative project that uses participatory art to improve well-being. It represents a unique approach to promoting well-being and has been recognized with a prestigious award for its creativity and impact. The project's success demonstrates the potential of art to enhance well-being and encourages further exploration of this concept.