Modules of Madness II, Plate XI 1965

Curator: What a harrowing first impression. The stark charcoal, the claustrophobic boxes… a raw scream of isolation. Editor: Indeed. This is Plate XI from Michael Mazur's "Modules of Madness II." Mazur, who passed away in 2009, created this print as part of a larger series exploring mental illness. Curator: Boxes—both literal and symbolic—always suggest confinement. And the heavy shadows, almost obscuring the figures, speak to the suffocating weight of these interior struggles. It’s almost a symbolic representation of the darkest parts of the psyche. Editor: I think you're right. Mazur was deeply involved in advocating for mental health reform; it's impossible not to view this through a political lens, examining the impact of societal structures on individual experiences. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a brutal reflection of the human condition, isn't it? Editor: One that demands we confront these often-hidden realities.