Artist collects false memories at free event
12 January 2012
With support from a Wellcome Trust Arts Award, Hopwood is collaborating with scientific researchers as an Artist-In-Residence at the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths College, under the guidance of Professor Christopher C French.
At a free public presentation on Tuesday 17 January, Hopwood will introduce the False Memory Archive and invite audience members to contribute their own mistaken recollections.
Hopwood will provide an overview of his activity as WITH, outline his ambitions for the residency and present aspects of the rich history of false memory experiments. He will also attempt to rationalise the role of the artist within a scientific setting and touch on the possibilities and limitations of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
(False) Memories Are Made of This: A public presentation
Tuesday 17 January, 18.10
Room LG01, New Academic Building
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross, London SE14 6NW
Map | Admission free
Speaking about the project, Professor French said: "It's possible that much of what we take to be our personal autobiographical history is based upon false, or at least distorted, memories. We hope this project will get people thinking about the reliability of their own memories."
For more information about the False Memory Archive or to anonymously submit a memory, please visit We Need False Memories.
Image: This image - a young woman asleep with a devil sitting on her chest - suggests sleep paralysis, which can have a role in the formation of false memories relating to paranormal and anomalous experiences. Credit: Wellcome Library, London.
Contact
For further information about the project or the event, please contact:
Jen Middleton
Media Officer, Wellcome Trust
T 020 7611 7262
M 07534 143849
E
j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk
Notes for editors
About the False Memory Archive
The
False Memory Archive is part of a research project set up by WITH and supported by a Wellcome Trust Arts Award that is attempting to collect and present reports of false memories submitted by the public. False memories can be submitted anonymously through the project's website.
About Alasdair Hopwood and The WITH Collective
Alasdair Hopwood is an artist and writer. From 2000 to 2002, he was Arts Editor of the notorious and anarchic 'Sleazenation' magazine and since 2007 he's been a regular contributor to 'Art Review'. Since 2002, he has worked under the quasi-fictional pseudonym
The WITH Collective (WITH), receiving critical praise in the UK and beyond, largely through the creation of a range of concepts that are for sale at the website. These darkly comic concepts, or 'Solutions', are the primary manifestation of the artwork; the theme that links all of the ideas together is that a commissioner can have an experience either invented or lived out on their behalf by a member of the collective. Solution examples include: Traumaformer, where you can commission WITH to create evidence of an invented traumatic experience; Fauxbia, where WITH will experience your worst fears on your behalf; and Mymory, where WITH will attempt to remember something you've forgotten.
WITH have exhibited internationally, creating projects and commissions for a variety of galleries including Tate Britain, The Hayward Gallery, The V&A, The ICA, K3 Zurich and the British Council, New Delhi. The WITH Collective are represented by Rokeby.
For a review of Alasdair Hopwood's last solo show at Chapter, see the JJ essay.
About the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit
The unit is based at Goldsmiths, University of London, and is part of the Department of Psychology. The research unit was set up by Professor Chris French in 2000. The unit provides a focus for research activity in the area of anomalistic psychology.
About Professor Christopher C French
Professor Chris French is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, as well as being a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association. He has published more than 100 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics within psychology. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims.
About the Wellcome Trust
The
Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. It supports the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Trust's breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. It is independent of both political and commercial interests.
About Goldsmiths, University of London
Internationally renowned for its creative and innovative approach to teaching and research,
Goldsmiths, University of London offers undergraduate, postgraduate, teacher training and return-to-study opportunities in subjects covering the arts, social sciences, humanities and computing. Goldsmiths has been part of the University of London for more than 100 years, and is ranked ninth in the UK for world-leading 4* research (Research Assessment Exercise 2008). It is also recognised for its academic excellence, illustrated by Goldsmiths' membership of the 1994 Group, which brings together a select number of research-focused universities.
