Exhibition | Healing Panels: Co-create Comics as a Self-care Approach

12–22 June 2026
Opening reception: 5–9pm, 12 June
Lewisham Arthouse

Healing Panels: Co-create Comics as a Self-care Approach is a free public exhibition and workshop programme exploring how comics, visual metaphor and art therapy can support self-care, reflection and the expression of mental health experiences.

The exhibition presents a series of single-panel comics co-created by artist-researcher Jiahao Ji (Jill) with people who have lived experience of mental health challenges and neurodivergent experiences, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD and autism. Developed through previous workshops with Mind in Kingston, the works use visual metaphor and drawing to give form to personal experiences and open up new ways of expressing them, and understanding them.

Alongside the comics, the exhibition includes a visual academic publication introducing Ji’s method, and a graphic novel documenting the co-creation process. Together, these works explore how comics, storytelling and visual metaphor can offer an accessible approach to everyday self-care. Through the exhibition and workshops, Healing Panels creates a welcoming, enjoyable and creative programme for Lewisham’s local communities and wider audiences, while opening up conversations between artists, art therapists, local organisations and communities.

Four live participatory workshops will welcome members of the public to explore comics as a gentle and accessible form of self-care, reflection and creative expression. Open to all, the workshops offer a supportive space for people who may be navigating mental health challenges, as well as anyone interested in using drawing and storytelling to reflect on personal experience. Led by Jiahao Ji with art therapist Kavisha Dharia (Art Psychotherapist HCPC) and invited comic artists, each session will guide participants in creating their own short visual narratives.

All materials are provided, and no previous drawing experience is needed.

Booking essential. We recommend booking two sessions if you can, as this will give you more time to develop your comic and experience the full creative process. You are also very welcome to attend just one session.

The exhibition and public programme are curated by Catherine Li and take place at Lewisham Arthouse from 12–22 June, open daily from 12–6pm. This programme is generously supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Programme includes:

• Physical exhibition of co-created single-panel comics
• 4 x participatory comic-making workshops
• Visual academic publication by Jiahao Ji
• Graphic novel documenting the co-creation process
• Online exhibition of selected workshop outcomes after the exhibition finishes, with participants’ consent

Supported by

National Lottery through Arts Council England
South East London Mind
Arts Network
Entelechy Arts
Mind in Kingston
Lewisham Arthouse

Special thanks to Tracey Griffin, Ling Leng, Ailing Zhang, Xinmiao Bai, Shellz Xiao and Summer Alan for their generous support, expertise and contributions to the development and delivery of the project.

For further information or enquiries, please contact us at

[email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Lewisham Arthouse, 140 Lewisham Way, London, United Kingdom

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