David Bowie's visit to a psychiatric clinic in Vienna had a profound impact on his music and artistic vision. In September 1994, the legendary musician and artist accepted an invitation from Austrian artist André Heller to explore the Maria Gugging psychiatric clinic, a centre for Art Brut – or "Outsider Art" – produced by residents with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.
During their visit, Bowie was deeply moved by the work of two artists, August Walla and Oswald Tschirtner. Walla's paintings were layered with symbols and language, while Tschirtner's drawings reduced the human figure to simple lines. These works, Bowie said, "paint without any feeling of judgment," allowing the artists to express themselves freely.
Bowie and Brian Eno returned to their studio after the visit, determined to capture some of this spontaneity and freedom in their music. They redecorated the rehearsal space, turning it into a creative haven reminiscent of Gugging's painted walls. This new environment gave the band a sense of play, allowing them to express themselves freely.
However, Bowie's connection to mental health issues ran deeper. His half-brother Terry Burns had died by suicide after living with schizophrenia, and this pain and understanding informed much of his work. The experience at Gugging was particularly poignant for him, as he saw the tension between institutional violence towards the mentally ill and the power of creativity as a means of healing.
Now, nearly three decades later, Bowie's visit to Maria Gugging is set to be revealed in a new exhibition, A Day with David, which will open at Joondalup Contemporary Art Gallery on March 7. The show features Christine de Grancy's intimate photographs of Bowie and his interactions with the artists he met during his visit, as well as large-format prints and a video installation featuring vintage televisions playing archival footage.
Curator Lisa Henderson has aimed to present a nuanced portrait of Bowie, one that reveals not just the star but also an artist open to other people's experiences. As Ricardo Puentes, the general manager of the Santa Monica Art Museum, notes, "They feel very candid," inviting viewers into the space created by these photographs.
As we reflect on this pivotal moment in Bowie's artistic journey, it becomes clear that his relationship with mental health issues was complex and multifaceted. While he found solace in creativity as a means of healing, he also saw firsthand the devastating effects of institutional care. The visit to Maria Gugging was both an inspiration and a reminder of these ongoing struggles.
Ultimately, A Day with David presents us with a powerful and moving tribute to Bowie's artistic vision and his commitment to exploring the human condition through music and art.
During their visit, Bowie was deeply moved by the work of two artists, August Walla and Oswald Tschirtner. Walla's paintings were layered with symbols and language, while Tschirtner's drawings reduced the human figure to simple lines. These works, Bowie said, "paint without any feeling of judgment," allowing the artists to express themselves freely.
Bowie and Brian Eno returned to their studio after the visit, determined to capture some of this spontaneity and freedom in their music. They redecorated the rehearsal space, turning it into a creative haven reminiscent of Gugging's painted walls. This new environment gave the band a sense of play, allowing them to express themselves freely.
However, Bowie's connection to mental health issues ran deeper. His half-brother Terry Burns had died by suicide after living with schizophrenia, and this pain and understanding informed much of his work. The experience at Gugging was particularly poignant for him, as he saw the tension between institutional violence towards the mentally ill and the power of creativity as a means of healing.
Now, nearly three decades later, Bowie's visit to Maria Gugging is set to be revealed in a new exhibition, A Day with David, which will open at Joondalup Contemporary Art Gallery on March 7. The show features Christine de Grancy's intimate photographs of Bowie and his interactions with the artists he met during his visit, as well as large-format prints and a video installation featuring vintage televisions playing archival footage.
Curator Lisa Henderson has aimed to present a nuanced portrait of Bowie, one that reveals not just the star but also an artist open to other people's experiences. As Ricardo Puentes, the general manager of the Santa Monica Art Museum, notes, "They feel very candid," inviting viewers into the space created by these photographs.
As we reflect on this pivotal moment in Bowie's artistic journey, it becomes clear that his relationship with mental health issues was complex and multifaceted. While he found solace in creativity as a means of healing, he also saw firsthand the devastating effects of institutional care. The visit to Maria Gugging was both an inspiration and a reminder of these ongoing struggles.
Ultimately, A Day with David presents us with a powerful and moving tribute to Bowie's artistic vision and his commitment to exploring the human condition through music and art.
. I mean, can you imagine seeing David Bowie in action at that clinic? It's like getting a glimpse into the mind of a genius 
. And to think he was inspired by people with schizophrenia, it just goes to show how open-minded and empathetic he was. His music is already so iconic, but this exhibition might just take it to a whole new level 
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it's crazy to think that his visit to the Maria Gugging clinic all those years later had such a profound impact on his music. I mean, who would've thought that hanging out with people with schizophrenia and seeing their art would inspire him to make some of his most iconic stuff?
it's like really cool cuz they have pics of Bowie hangin out with ppl who hv schizophrenia n mental health issues 
it's like, he wasn't just a superstar but also someone who cared bout people's mental health n wanted 2 use his platform 4 good 
. its crazy how that pain shaped him into the artist we know today 
what's up with this exhibition being 3 decades late tho? feels like they're just cashing in on Bowie's legacy 
I'm loving this new exhibition about Bowie's visit to Maria Gugging... it's crazy how much of an impact that experience had on him, like he found a way to channel his emotions into something beautiful. 