"As soon as the patient passes the internment wall, he enters a new dimension of emotional emptiness ([...])" — Franco Basaglia (Italian psychiatrist, 1924-1980).
It seems strange to me to write that, but mental illness has been with me all my life. I grew up in Haar, a Munich suburb. A tranquil and beautiful place yet one that accommodates one of the largest psychiatric institutions in Germany. A beautiful area with old Art Nouveau buildings but also with a cruel dark past, because in World War II euthanasia was practiced here.
Having this in mind, my curiosity for the background of psychiatric institutions was awakened. When I visited one of these former institutions in Italy for the first time in 2013 and learned more about the sometimes cruel conditions, I realized that I wanted to photograph these places.
#21 Clockwork Orange
27points
#22 Idyll....maybe
26points
#23 Fixation (Kids Edition)
25points
#24 Invastigation
24points
#25 Silence Is Golden
23points
#26 Claustrophobia
22points
#27 The End Of The End
22points
#28 One Way
21points
#29 Nof4
21points
#30 Lonely End
21points
The history of psychiatry is steeped in both fascination and darkness. This intriguing dichotomy, much like the provocative humor in children's literature for adults, can challenge societal norms and provoke a wide range of emotions.
For those interested in exploring the interplay between controversial content and human reactions, you might find the exploration of dark humor in unconventional storytelling especially intriguing.
