Museu de Imagens do Inconsciente: Art Born from the Unconscious

The Museu de Imagens do Inconsciente, located in the Engenho de Dentro neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, is a unique institution dedicated to the collection, study, and exhibition of art produced by individuals undergoing psychiatric treatment. Founded in 1952 by Dr. Nise da Silveira, a pioneering psychiatrist who rejected traditional and aggressive treatments like electroshock and lobotomies, the museum emerged from her work in the Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sector (STOR) of the then-named Centro Psiquiátrico Pedro II. Da Silveira believed in the power of creative expression as a means of communication and healing for patients with mental disorders. She established art workshops where patients could freely express themselves through painting, drawing, and sculpture, without intervention or judgment. The resulting artworks, numbering over 350,000, form the core of the museum's collection, offering a window into the complex inner worlds of their creators. The museum's collection includes works from individuals who had little or no prior artistic training, resulting in raw and unfiltered expressions of their inner experiences. The museum also preserves the history of the movement for a more humanized psychiatry. The museum's approach is rooted in Carl Jung's theories, and Jung himself invited Nise da Silveira to exhibit her patients' work at the International Congress of Psychiatry in Zurich in 1957. Today, the Museu de Imagens do Inconsciente continues to be a vital center for research, education, and artistic expression, promoting dialogue and understanding around mental health.