May 7th, 2026
Citoyen·nes en mouvement pour la santé
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Citoyen·nes en mouvement pour la santé
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
With testimonials collected by Claire Daugeard in collaboration with patients and peer practitioners in Neuchâtel
Organized by the Les Scènes solidaires
Additional support by the BRIDGE Funding Program
Special thanks to:
Gaëlle Buob, Camille Bregnard, the patients and peer practitioners who shared their experiences, the therapists and facilitators involved in the workshops, and all visitors and participants who contributed to the conversations throughout the day.
“Internal Territories: Perceiving Space Through the Mind” explored how mental
states shape the way we perceive, interpret, and emotionally inhabit space.
Developed from testimonials describing psychiatric symptoms and associated
spatial experiences, the installation examined how the very same underground
environment can be experienced radically differently depending on one’s
psychological state. Through reflective lanterns, interpretive drawings,
and punctured light patterns inspired by these lived experiences, the work
translated invisible inner realities into a spatial and sensory encounter.
Each lantern projected a distinct pattern of light expressing a particular
psychiatric experience, while all shared the same external form. In this way,
the installation suggested that although individuals may appear similar outwardly,
their internal perceptions and sensory realities can differ profoundly.
As visitors approached the lanterns, they encountered their own reflections
on the mirrored surfaces, creating a subtle gesture of empathy and self-recognition.
The installation invited participants to consider what it might feel like to inhabit
another person’s perceptual world, encouraging a more embodied and compassionate understanding of mental illness. Alongside the installation, two participatory
workshops explored themes of empathy, resilience, biophilia, restorative rituals,
and spatial perception. Together, the project sought to foster dialogue around mental
health through shared reflection, sensory engagement, and collective experience.
This work will continue to evolve through the gathering of new testimonials
and future collaborations with peer practitioners, therapists, and communities.
Workshops on May 7th
Installation at Les Souterrains
Drawings and Testimonials
Media Coverage
Institutional Partners
