Artist Uses Architecture To Describe Mental Illness

We’ve seen mental illnesses and disorders represented as monsters and like a children’s book, but have you ever seen them described as houses? Italian artist Federico Babina started a project called Archiatric where he represents 16 conditions as houses. He is able to capture what each condition feels like with a simple drawing of a building. A mental illness can feel the home you are forced to live in, which is why Federico’s work is so spot on. 

1. Dementia 

A person with dementia may experience difficulty remembering day-to-day events, problems concentrating, trouble communicating, or lose track of the day, time, or where they are.

2. Autism

A person on the autism spectrum has trouble with social skills, may experience repetitive behaviors, be non-verbal, and have unique strengths or differences.

3. Bipolar Disorder

A person with bipolar disorder experiences “unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.”

4. Depression

A person with depression is much more than sad. They experience periods of hopelessness, numbness, loss of interest in activities, as well as physical symptoms such as aches, loss of appetite, increased sleep or even inability to sleep.

5. Anxiety

A person with anxiety is more worried than most people and it can range from social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, or generalized anxiety. Their constant worry can interfere with their daily lives.

See the rest of Federico Babina’s project on his website.