Adolf Wolfli (1864-1930) was a Swiss artist and writer, often regarded as one of the foremost figures in the Art Brut or “Outsider Art” movement. Wölfli’s life was marked by hardship and institutionalization, but it was within these confines that he created a vast body of work, comprising over 25,000 pages of drawings and writings.
Born in Bern, Switzerland, Wölfli experienced a traumatic childhood, marked by abuse and abandonment. His adulthood was similarly tumultuous, with instances of erratic behavior leading to his commitment to the Waldau Clinic, a psychiatric hospital in Bern, in 1895. It was here that his artistic journey began.
Around 1899, without any formal artistic training, Wölfli began creating detailed drawings and writings, often melding the two. His works are characterized by intricate patterns, a cacophony of images, and a dense amalgamation of symbols, text, and depictions, which often illustrate his own fantastical autobiography. This autobiography describes a personal cosmology where he transforms from a child into a knight, then a saint, and eventually a god-like figure.
His inspirations were rooted in his own experiences, imagination, and possibly the music he heard (he often constructed paper musical instruments). Wölfli’s art, dense and intense, has been compared to the works of other outsider artists like Henry Darger due to its narrative nature and the personal universe each artist created. His profound influence is evident in the interest shown by notable figures in the art world, including Jean Dubuffet, who coined the term “Art Brut” to describe raw, unmediated art like Wölfli’s.
Useful Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Wölfli
https://www.wikiart.org/en/adolf-wolfli
