Installation
artist Sarah Nicholson was in August 2001 appointed artist-in-residence
at Cleveland Arts to work on ‘Reflections’, (an
element of the Articulate project) a social inclusion arts
project.
The
artist worked with Mental Health Service users across Stockton-on-Tees
to make artworks exploring issues of perception, isolation
and aspiration.
Sir
Francis Galton developed the pseudo science of physiognomy
in the 1800’s as part of the whole Victorian obsession
with taxonomy; It was thought that by compositing photos
it would be possible to find the ideal image of "the
criminal", "the insane" etc. By identifying
the signs of mental instability on the face, their "difference",
it was thought that these "others" within society
could be quickly identified and isolated. Poetic Possessions
reverses the process and re-establishes the individuality
of the people involved.
The
finished piece was projected at a large scale onto the curved
glass walls of the ARC Arts Centre, Stockton-on-Tees.
