A project by Francesco Bertocco dedicated to the cultural legacy of Franco Basaglia, a key figure in the transformation of modern psychiatry and a champion of a radical critique of total institutions.
At the heart of the research lies Basaglia's 1979 trip to Brazil, with particular focus on the former Juquery psychiatric hospital, one of the largest asylums in the world. By retracing the various stages of his journey, meeting witnesses and visiting places marked by the history of institutionalisation, Bertocco constructs a visual investigation that weaves together photography, video and documentary research. Drawing also on the dialogic nature of the lectures and public debates held by Basaglia throughout his trip, the project reflects on the link between political activism, psychiatric practices and human rights, opening up a broader reflection on mechanisms of control, the role of institutional architecture and the forms of confinement reserved for those perceived as different, alien and, for this reason, socially excluded.
Francesco Bertocco (born 1983 in Milano) is a visual artist whose practice, through video, film and installation, explores documentary-making as a tool for critical investigation into settings of care and scientific research. He has presented his work at Italian and international institutions such as PAC and the Museo del Novecento in Milan, MAMbo in Bologna, the Centro Pecci in Prato, the Fondazione Merz in Turin and OCAT in Shanghai. He has also taken part in numerous festivals and exhibitions dedicated to cinema and contemporary art.
