Libido-Morbido Theory

Freud postulated that there were two distinct forces that fueled all human behaviors. These are the polar drives of life, “libido,” and death, “morbido,” which were later labeled as the Eros (life) and Thanatos (death) instincts (Kerr, 2014). As a country, there is an overall obsession with technology. This fixation on creation may lead to the inevitable destruction of our species. (Leith, 2000). Furthermore, the problems of the world are not from the disease outside, but the disease within. Therefore, I propose embracing the libido-morbido conflict by working with bones in an art therapy climate. Indeed, I believe that this may result in the “sublimation” of the life and death tension.
In fact, the use of bones is not foreign to the field of art therapy. What is more, the use of bones as art is mentioned by one of the original art therapists, Edward Adamson (Moon, 2010). Also, mentioned in Catherine Moon’s (2010) book, Margaret Naumburg sought an archeological perspective later in her practice of art therapy (p. 116).

Although, this was not as easy as anticipated. Although, websites had suggested local supermarkets, I only acquired a package of marrow bones. In anticipation of difficulties collecting bones, I had previously asked friends to save any scrap bones for the project. Luckily, this attempt was more successful, and I moved on to material preparation.
Boiling the bones in water and stripping them of residual tissue, put the bones through an alchemical process, both literally and metaphorically. Thus, it broke down the barrier of death, and then I began the transmutation of the bones into a new form of life, through art. While cleaning the bones, an awareness of similarity between the bones, in my body, and that of the chickens emerged. Moreover, “transference” occurred, as I contemplated how my bones kept my body’s form and structure, protected my vital organs, and enabled me to function, and