Ingenious Insanity
Genius vs. madness – Animated Video Project about "crazy geniuses" Van Gogh, Beethoven, Darwin, Goethe, Nietzsche and Nash.
With a selection of personalities who have positively influenced the world while suffering from different mental disorders, we want to counteract the stigma of the "crazy" genius and thus promote a less prejudiced view of mentally ill people.
Collaborative work: Concept, research, development of a visual language, logo design, texts, design and programming of the website
(Sophia Ulbrich, Marceline Baier, Anastasia Mangelsdorf). Solo work: Storyboard, image editing & animation of "Beethoven" and "Darwin".
Check out the full project: www.ingenious-insanity.com
Ludwig van Beethoven fell into a deep depression and alcoholism after an increasingly severe deafness began developing at the age of 26. In his "Heiligenstadt Testament", he poignantly described his illness, the isolation forced by it, and his suicidal thoughts: "Only art, that holds me back". He is considered one of the greatest musical talents of all time.
Beethoven image editing, animation & sound design: Sophia Ulbrich
Goethe image editing + animation: Marceline Baier
Van Gogh image editing + animation: Anastasia Mangelsdorf
Charles Darwin (below) suffered from severe depression since childhood and wrote extensively about it in his journals while traveling on the HMS Beagle. He struggled with paralyzing anxiety attacks that made it almost impossible for him to work. The publication of his "On the Origin of Species" changed our understanding of the natural world forever.
