# Poignant Schizophrenia Photos 'The Mathematician' Comprises Touching Photos of a Schizophrenic By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-05-15 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-mathematician References: [featureshoot](http://www.featureshoot.com/2014/05/intimate-poignant-photographs-man-living-schizophrenia/) & [juliacybularz](http://www.juliacybularz.com/Image.asp?ImageID=1852842&apid=1&gpid=1&ipid=1&AKey=24WYMV6S) 'The Mathematician' is an incredibly poignant [photo series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color) which catalogs the life of Slaweck Kosmala, a 40-year-old Polish immigrant suffering from schizophrenia. Kosmala is the cousin of photographer Julia Cybularz, and lives with his mother in northeast Philadelphia. The photos are at once [touching and disturbing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multimedia-art-installation), as they portray the struggle and loneliness brought about by schizophrenia as well as the beauty and simplicity of Slaweck's heart and mind. The photos depict him leaning against a fallen tree, napping with a dog and standing over the body of a sleeping girl in his household as if in mourning. The photos are not merely intended to provoke feelings of pity, but to prompt viewers to appreciate and not take for granted the tiny, [mundane moments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonnas-cam) of day-to-day existence which represent a great deal of frustration and confusion for people suffering from developmental disorders. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 78% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Schizophrenia Awareness:** There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in raising awareness and providing support for people suffering from schizophrenia. - **Personalization in Mental Health:** There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in providing personalized treatments and therapies for people suffering from schizophrenia. - **Art Therapy:** There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in using art therapy as a tool to aid in the treatment of people suffering from schizophrenia. ### Where This Applies - **Mental Health:** The mental health industry has an opportunity to invest in research and development of new treatments and therapies for people suffering from schizophrenia. - **Art Therapy:** The art therapy industry has an opportunity to expand its services to help in the treatment of people suffering from schizophrenia. - **Photography:** The photography industry has an opportunity to use its platform to raise awareness and advocate for people suffering from schizophrenia. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Mental Health-Supporting Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-photo.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Emotional Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/johnson-johnson.md) - [Photography Project Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Neurodiversity-Exploring Textiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interwoven-project.md) - [Personal Nostalgic Photo Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holy-ohio.md) - [Artist-Edition Jigsaw Puzzles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artistedition-jigsaw-puzzles.md)