The Social Arts in War-Related Loss and Trauma: The Case of Israel

The social arts (SA) are a subfield of the participatory arts that integrate the arts and social practices. SA are defined as art created by socially engaged professionals, including artists, creative arts therapists, social workers, and/or others who collaborate with nonprofessionals. SA artists aim to raise awareness, kindle empathy, and instill hope while urging action. SA works are often created to increase public awareness, influence government policy, and process trauma and grief. This qualitative study describes and contextualizes eight SA works made in Israel in response to the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th, 2023, and the hostage crisis in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. The study also sought to explore the underlying meanings of these works through semiotic analysis. The semiotic analysis revealed recurring themes: the use of signifiers (for example, teddy bears and the figure of a woman) to signify innocence and vulnerability, unoccupied furniture (empty beds, dinner tables awaiting guests) to signify loss, and the use of yellow to signify solidarity and support. The SA works evoked grief, longing, and horror, but also camaraderie and resilience, thus reflecting the range of human experiences during the war. Future research recommendations include exploring the long-term impact of SA and, in particular, its role in encouraging healing, resilience, and hope within the context of conflict and loss.