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Master's graduation project 2024.

For my Master’s graduation project, I explored healing through drawing, documenting daily moments to reclaim mental space and express emotions visually. Starting with intuitive sketches on A4 paper, I treated drawing as a purposeful daily ritual. Collectively, these sketches revealed the depth of emotional inner darkness. Transitioning to digital art deepened my commitment, offering new perspectives. Digital tools allowed me to animate my drawings and curate the process, adding layers to my handmade work. Expanding my practice, I began drawing on a larger scale, incorporating artificial and natural light. Each pencil stroke exposed unprocessed emotions, guided by rhythm and shadow play. Light became my reason to draw.  This process gave me a reflective space to understand and process trauma. Inspired by Gabor Maté’s insight that  “Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you…” (From: The Wisdom of Trauma, 2021) I created a spatial experience to visualize this internal impact—an extension of my mind. By connecting personal experiences with theoretical insights, this project highlights my drive to use design as a tool for processing trauma and raising awareness of its effects.

This project was created under the guidance of design tutor Nasim Razavian and theory tutors Anne Hoogewoning & Gerjan Streng.

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 Memory Wall – part of a spatial installation exploring memory and trauma (Adar Cohen KABK Graduation Project, 2024).

"Processing the Unprocessed" is an immersive installation that explores the complex, non-linear nature of trauma and healing. Through three key elements—the Memory Wall, Drawing System, and Balcony Drawings—the project externalizes inner experiences into a spatial journey. The Memory Wall brings personal sketches to life through digital animation, reflecting the emotional aftermath of trauma. The Drawing System documents a daily process of reflection on a continuous paper roll, symbolizing the evolving nature of recovery. The Balcony Drawings use light and shadow to capture the slow, layered passage of time. Together, these elements invite visitors into a quiet, meditative environment that mirrors the depth, difficulty, and beauty of healing.

The process of making the exhibition. 

Plan & Section – Installation Layout
Graduation Exhibition, Master Interior Architecture, KABK 2022

Section C-C

Section A-A

Section D-D

Section B-B

Thesis Highlights

Curated selection of pages from the final thesis

Videos in the Installation

The Balcony Drawings – A time-lapse capturing the drawing process from morning until sundown.

The Drawing System – A fragmented documentation of the creative process, filmed over several weeks.

Copyright © 2024 Adar Cohen

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