Nise da Silveira
Psychiatrist (1905 – 1999) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
After 18 months in prison for possessing Marxist books, she began working in a psychiatric hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Nise refused to undergo the aggressive treatments of the time (electroshock, insulin therapy, lobotomy) and for this reason she was relegated to an occupational therapy service, an area discredited by doctors at that time. But Nise saw in this space an opportunity to experiment with patients through painting and modelling workshops. The result revolutionised psychiatry: her patients began to paint and demonstrated a great capacity for symbolic expression and unsuspected creativity. Thus was born the "Museum of Images of the Unconscious", a project in which artist-patients such as Adelina Gomes, Carlos Pertuis or Emygdio de Barros became known. Their incredible creations opened up new possibilities for a deeper understanding of the inner universe of schizophrenics. She also developed other revolutionary projects, such as "A casa das Palmeiras" for patients undergoing rehabilitation or therapeutic aid techniques with animals. She died at the age of 94, finally recognized for her work and conviction, in Rio de Janeiro.
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