Riesen=Stadt, Waaben=Hall 1917

Adolf Wölfli made "Riesen=Stadt, Waaben=Hall" with crayon and pencil on paper; the date of its creation is unknown. Wölfli spent his adult life in a psychiatric clinic; his art was part of his world-making. At first glance, the drawing might appear as a decorative pattern but closer inspection reveals musical notations and obsessive geometrical forms. These patterns speak to Wölfli’s self-taught musical and artistic endeavors, which became a refuge from his traumatic childhood marked by poverty, displacement, and mental illness. Wölfli's work exists between the deeply personal and a desire for order. The symmetry and repetition could be seen as a way to control his internal chaos, while the musical notations hint at an emotional language that transcends his personal struggles. His art was not just a form of expression; it was a way to construct and control his narrative, offering an alternative to the life dealt to him. Ultimately, his art challenges us to consider the role of creativity in the face of trauma.