Fondation Jugend-an Drogenhëllef

"The Self Portrait Experience (SPEX)" is much more than just an artistic device. Created by artist Cristina Nuñez in 2005, SPEX uses autobiographical photography and video to aim for individual and social transformation. Its objective is to improve and strengthen the self-image of the participants, by transforming their emotions into works of art.

The idea for SPEX was born from Cristina Nuñez's personal experience. After going through an adolescence marked by heroin addiction, she found self-portraits to be a form of self-therapy. In 2004, she realized that this practice could be beneficial to other people and thus gave birth to SPEX, a device for exploring inner life through self-portrait photography.

The project carried out at the Centre pénitentiaire in Luxembourg attracted the attention of the Fondation Jugend- an Drogenhëllef. Impressed by the impact of autobiographical photography on the participants, they decided to offer Foundation clients the opportunity to work on their addiction issues through creativity.

After completing the recruitment of participants until May 2024, the project is now in the phase of the first self-portrait sessions. The selection of participants has proven to be the main difficulty so far, as it was essential to find individuals who were emotionally ready to engage in autobiographical work.

In the long term, the goal of the project is to promote the recovery journey of the participants by stimulating their creative identity and increasing their self-esteem. Both Cristina Nuñez and the staff of the Jugend- an Drogenhëllef Foundation aim to encourage social change by reframing perceptions around substance use disorders.

Cristina Nuñez's motto perfectly sums up the spirit of the project: "It is possible to transform pain and difficult emotions into works of art."

"One of my goals as a social activist is to reduce social stigma. As a former heroin addict and former prostitute, I myself have suffered from stigmatization and self-stigmatization, and I have fought to overcome it. Today, I use my past experiences to show (…) that it is possible to transform our lives."

SPEX therefore represents a unique opportunity to catalyze healing through artistic expression, and to redefine the narratives surrounding addiction and redemption. This project reminds us that art can be a powerful agent of social transformation, capable of giving a voice to those who are often silenced.