Fiona Tan: Monomania

The exhibition presents Fiona Tan’s perspective on the imagination of the inner self and the emergence of psychiatry in the early 19th century, examining the role of careful observation in the diagnosis of mental “disorders.” Tan, internationally recognised for her research-based film and video installations, invites viewers to consider a past that feels strikingly contemporary through a new lens.

In her engagement with the Rijksmuseum’s collection, Fiona Tan is guided by questions such as: What does the term monomania signify at the time? How are individuals experiencing mental health challenges perceived? And, above all, how are they portrayed?