From the Beginnings to Modern Outsider Arts

"Elephant man" by Thomas Nick.
Photo: Guido Wessel, Dortmund

The arch of history drawn by the exposition "Inside Worlds Outside Worlds - From the Beginnings to Modern Outsider Arts" is unique in Germany and has never been shown before. It presents historical and rarely accessible works of the Prinzhorn collection from Heidelberg, the Morgenthaler collection from Bern and contemporary art work from participants in the Art-Transmitter project in Dortmund, who have undergone psychiatric treatment.

The basis of the exposition is formed by artistic works from psychiatric clinics, European museums for psychiatric arts and by artists having undergone psychiatric treatment. In addition, "Inside Worlds Outside Worlds" offers a forum for artists and gallery owners to discuss developments and trends of this artistic segment with visitors.

"Portrait" by Lisa Urban.
Photo: Guido Wessel, Dortmund

What is new is the aim of joining health care. What kind of experiences do outsider artists make with the art market? How can talents be promoted? Does the label "outsider arts" still make sense? After all, Vincent van Gogh was also an artist who had undergone psychiatric treatment.

Project:
Europäische Gesellschaft zur Förderung von Kunst und Kultur in der Psychiatrie e. V. (D) / Liberto Balaguer & Ingrid Nölle & Guido Wessel, Art Transmitter, Dortmund (D)

Partner:
Sammlung Morgenthaler, Bern (CH) / Sammlung Prinzhorn, Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg (D) / Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds (GB) / Seacroft and Killingbeck Hospital, Leeds (GB) / St. James Hospital, Leeds (GB)