The Shape of Knowing
What once Was
At Arm’s Length
Installation views
About
CV
Dr. Heinrich Stadelmann, was a German Psychiatrist who, in the early 20th century, categorized his patients according to bird species. Mainly treating kids and sub- adults. He used fringe-science and pseudo-methods like hypnosis and suggestive therapy
This historical case reveals how psychiatry, through symbolism and imagination, is intertwined with systems of order and control.
Through my own experiences with clinical diagnoses and search for identity I question how forms of knowledge shape our understanding of the body and mind within a broader context.
Birds serve as both symbols and physical manifestations of identity and freedom. Eventually becoming tools to break stigma’s .Through photography, archival research, and collaborations with scientists, I explore what birds can teach us about ourselves and others—making space for imagination, complexity, and absurdity.
This project is made possible by the
Oog op de Natuur grant.