Ongoing History Daily: David Bowie’s psychiatric revelation

In the early 90s, David Bowie was going through a creative rough patch. After the success of the 70s and early 80s, he wasn’t entirely sure where to go. He needed new inspiration if he was going to remake himself again.

So, in September 1994, Bowie and producer Brian Eno travelled to the Maria Gugging psychiatric clinic near Vienna. This clinic was famous for encouraging its patients to participate in making art. Many suffer from schizophrenia and other serious mental disorders.

The creations of these patients are known as Art Brut or “Outside Art.” These people make art on the fringes of the human mind. Bowie was fascinated by how they painted without regard for norms or judgment. They painted exactly how they felt. Bowie’s impressions were the jumping-off point for the making of his Outside album, in 1995.

If you’ve ever felt unsettled by that record, could this be why?