Art and CBS intersects in Rome

An exhibition that includes an installation focusing on Charles Bonnet syndrome has opened at the American Academy in Rome. Italian illustrator and visual designer, Francesco Zorzi, is the creator of the project, MACULA / The Theater is in the Mind. 

MACULA is an immersive experience which explores the links between macular degeneration and Bonnet syndrome. Drawing upon the language of design and visual arts, Zorzi states: "MACULA literally draws the curtains to let you in their minds, to have a glimpse of the world through the eyes of their mind."  

 

 

His work draws upon numerous transcripts of authentic CBS personal accounts. This includes:

 “I said, “What are these things doing here?” Because at first you think they are real things that you can touch. Then you realise that they are made out of… nothing.” 

Zorzi's exhibit is part of the annual event, Cinque Mostre (literally meaning: 5 exhibitions) which officially opened on February 20. Each year’s Cinque Mostre has a particular theme; in 2019, it is Displacement. In this regard, CBS is a very good fit: not only in terms of perception but also the potential upheaval on emotional and self-identity fronts.

Displacement speaks to a core unsettling of one’s life experience. Vision loss, combined with Bonnet syndrome, can seriously undermine one’s sense of grounding. Everyday tasks can become a struggle. Perceptually, the lines between reality and fiction can become blurred. This blurring can lead to questioning one's own sanity and the associated anxiety that flows from that. Zorzi hopes that his work will generate an open discussion about CBS and in the process challenge associated taboos.  

Cinque Mostre 2019 runs till the end of March. Entrance is free. For more information, click here