Hubert Riedler married and became the father of a daughter, whom he barely knew. Following their divorce, while she was still an infant, his ex-wife moved to another city. Over the years, he struggled with alcoholism, had frequent encounters with the law, and spent a long period living on the streets. In 1998, he was admitted to a shelter for people experiencing homelessness, and the following year he was allocated an apartment.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Riedler followed his treatment only intermittently, taking as little of the prescribed medication as possible. Drawing became the central passion of his life. He worked not only on paper but also on the walls and furniture of his apartment, gradually transforming his living space into a Gesamtkunstwerk—a total work of art.