Franco Bellucci's self-made toys are all of his life, his present, his past and future. They are also mysterious works of art, a powerful example of uselessness of violence and detention against mental problems, unfortunately still heavily enforced in many countries and situations. Stories like Franco's seem to show that relief is possible only through beauty, respect and humanity.

Hulk's Toys - Visitors to the first international exhibition of Franco Bellucci self-made toys that took place at the Mad Musée in Liège (Belgium). Franco Bellucci was detained in an italian asylum since his childhood, during 40 years, 15 tied to his bed all day long. Nowadays he lives in an open facility in Livorno, Italy, where his condition is respected and his creativity is encouraged. His main interest is in his toys, that he makes everyday by himself tying in knots all kind of materials.

His toys come from all possible kind of wires, cords and objects. One of the main reasons for his 40 years long detention was his destructivenes towards things combined with his great force. Today, this impulse has transformed almost completely in a creative one.

Rooms are made for two in the open mental health facility. For people like Franco, having lived all their lives in mental institutions, subject to violence, physical restrictions during years, it would be impossible to take care of themselves alone. In asylums, in those big rooms where tens and hundreds of people were detained together, social exchange was almost non-existent.

Riccardo Bargellini, artist, facilitates visual expression workshops for patients of the mental health district in Livorno. He was one of the first to notice and encourage Franco's creativity, bringing him recycled material and dismissed toys. He is also the one that organizes exhibits of Franco's work.

In 1978, when a law abolished asylums in Italy, Franco went to stay for a short period in his childhood house with his family. The very first thing he did when entering his house, after almost twenty years of detention, was to go look in the room they shared with his brother Mario, in the box where he used to keep his toys as a child.

Franco lives in an open facility since 1998, with others that like him, after being freed from asylums, did not have a family anymore that could take them in charge. Here, a rainy day, bad mood.

People working in the facility play a major role in taking care of Franco and the others. There is always a word of simpathy for each one.

ranco was detained during 40 years in an asylum. During 15 years, he was constantly tied to his bed. One day, while firmly attached, his bed was set on fire.

One of the main reasons for his lifelong detention was his great physical force, combined with his destructivity towards objects. He has never used violence against the livings.

When, in 1998, the asylum where he lived was finally closed down, 20 years after the 1978 law abolishing it, Franco did not speak and was absolutely not capable of taking care of himself. Franco was received in a public open mental health facility in Livorno, where he has lived ever since. Here, an innovative approach towards mental health is conducted, not only as a therapeutical appendix, but as an equally important method to establish self-esteem, respect and social exchange with the external world. This means encouraging creativity, as for Franco and many others, and empowering people through cooperative remunerated work. Last but not least, it means opening the facility to the general public as much as possible, in an attempt to reduce social stigma on mental health.

His only family left is his brother Mario, who took care of him during all his life. Due to his age and health problems, it would be almost impossible for him to adequately take care of Franco. He visits frequently, and they go out for the day during weekends, a moment that Franco expects with great anticipation.

Franco while going out ot the facility for a short walk, carrying one of his toys. The mental health facility where Franco lives is entitled to Franco Basaglia, the psychiatrist who inspired the 1978 revolutionary law that abolished asylums, making Italy the first and only country in the world where asylums are illegal. Mental health services and facilities like this one in Livorno, where the combined social, human, medical and economical resources provide a true alternative to asylums are still very few.

Franco, here in their childhood home with his brother Mario, has a deep relationship with him. Mario also encourages and is very patient with Franco's passion for his self-made toys.

A sunday by the sea, in Livorno. Although his height and force has certainly contributed to create a sense of insecurity in people who did not know him, Franco's destructiveness has always been directed only towards things and objects, and never, in no occasion, to people.

His toys are a constant thought to Franco. He only sometimes accepts to exchange them for new material, to make again others.

Franco has deeply suffered from the 40 years he was force to spend in the asylum, tied to his bed, exposed to violence and often inhuman treatments. Today, he lives a life made of his toys in a facility which is his home and where he is treated with respect and humanity. Although he sometimes cries, he seems to hold no anger towards the world.

Franco Bellucci self-made creations are first of all his toys, that he cherishes deeply, but also powerful works of art.