For an extension to the psychiatric clinic in Rüdersdorf near Berlin, a concept for a mural that expresses the ambivalence of psychiatry was produced under the title Schutz und Offenheit (Shelter and Openness). The building of the Immanuel Klinik in Rüdersdorf houses the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Brandenburg Medical School.
in the courtyard
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of the mural
with the five values
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of the mural
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Perception of the walkway
The walkway serves not only to connect the buildings but also for people to relax. The mural will give to patients, relatives and clinic staff a positive impulse so that they come to life. Two situations of perception exist here: the close-up impression while walking past, and the impression from a distance in the surroundings. For its close-up impression, the mural provides a strong perspective effect that changes with every step and exerts a positive attracting force. The mural can be explored by walking, and it walks with the beholder. For its effect from a distance, the mural provides a vigorous, focussing colour activity whose positive effect bridges even greater distances and whose meaning is apparent everywhere.
The ambivalence of psychiatry
The first theme of the mural is the fundamental principle of modern psychiatry: to give patients the necessary protection on the one hand, while retaining links to social environments on the other hand, thus making it possible to be close to the community and visible. In its artistic realisation, this leads to the themes of inside and outside. A rectangular field acting as a protective frame is the platform for the image content, which nevertheless extends beyond this frame. The “life” of form and colour within and outside the frame is the same in principle. There is a basic structure that makes its appearance both inside and outside. Despite this, the frame exists and is clearly visible, without itself becoming an active part of the image content. It is inscribed into the image like an extensive visual signal. This frame has a central position between the two supporting pillars, thus linking the mural to the architecture. The pillars are interpreted as an extended frame that reinforce the element of shelter. They are incorporated into the message of the mural.
The values of the Immanuel Diakonie
The second theme of the mural is the interaction of the values of the Immanuel Diakonie: Immanuel, care, justice, orientation to success, team spirit. These five values correspond to five colour strips that are interwoven and constitute the entire image. The structure of the image is nothing less than the interaction – expressed in abstract terms – of five factors. These appear as five protagonists. In their symbolic significance, the colour strips are recognisable by means of legible words. The concepts of the five values are brought to life by means of adjectives: individual, caring, just, successful, together. In this way, each colour strip is given, as it were, a name. Five values – five colours. The interpenetration of the colour movements stands for the interaction of the values.
The structure of the visual language
The third theme of the mural is the guiding principle of the clinic: the imperative to work integratively and holistically. The mural expresses this aim with immediacy as it consists of a continuous structure that cannot be described in any other terms than integrative and holistic. Although the structure of shapes and colours is based on a grid, is goes significantly beyond this regularity. Thus the structure comes alive, on the one hand through the free positioning of colours, on the other hand through the variety of forms. The mural is imbued with a directional dynamism from left to right and in this way communicates progress. At the same time it is animated by a slightly rising tendency. The fresh colour atmosphere relates to the natural surroundings of the adjacent gardens and the open sky.