Nise da Silveira
Psychiatrist (1905 – 1999) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

After 18 months in prison for possession of Marxist books, she began working at a psychiatric hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Nise refused to undergo the aggressive treatments of the time (electroshock, insulin therapy, lobotomy) and was therefore relegated to an occupational therapy unit, a field discredited by doctors at the time. But Nise saw in this space an opportunity to experiment with patients through painting and modeling workshops. The result revolutionized psychiatry: her patients began to paint and demonstrated a great capacity for symbolic expression and unsuspected creativity. Thus was born the "Museum of Images of the Unconscious," a project that brought to light artist-patients such as Adelina Gomes, Carlos Pertuis, and Emygdio de Barros. Their incredible creations opened up new possibilities for a deeper understanding of the inner world of schizophrenics. She also developed other groundbreaking projects, such as "A casa das Palmeiras" for patients undergoing rehabilitation, and therapeutic assistance techniques using animals. She died at the age of 94, finally recognized for her work and conviction, in Rio de Janeiro.