Psychic Refuge
Supporters
Psychic Refuge was generously supported by Unlimited.
Psychic Refuge
Sophie Hoyle
2020 – 2021
Pyschic Refuge is a project led by artist Sophie Hoyle exploring mental health, trauma and its treatment in the UK and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), encompassing workshops, discussion, performance, and a collaborative online resource.
Drawing from the artist’s lived experiences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and from being part of the MENA diaspora, Psychic Refuge developed through an eight-day research trip to Palestine and discussions with mental health NGOs to explore different forms of treatment for trauma including bodywork such as Trauma-Release Exercises (TRE). The project aims to generate dialogue between different perspectives on mental health and trauma, bridging the biomedical, theoretical and the personal, and grassroots activism and institutional approaches.
The artist has also been exploring the impact of sound in relation to trauma, framed by discussions with scientists on how PTSD affects audio perception, and using neurofeedback technology to inform an experimental performance piece.
Psychic Refuge was developed by Sophie Hoyle as part of their collaboration with Unlimited and Forma in the 2019/20 round of Partnership grants.
Visit the website here
The research undertaken through Psychic Refuge has been used to generate a cross-disciplinary resource through an interactive website, made accessible through multimedia content and translated into Arabic and English. The website was designed and developed by Studio Hyte to prioritise accessibility, including integrating options for specialised functions.
Psychic Refuge gathers contemporary understandings and applications of trauma studies and psychology, PTSD and treatments in the context of Palestinian occupation. It pairs new writing and digital content by the artist with contributions from related organisations and experts, plus direction to relevant external resources.
The website launched in May 2021 through a series of events and commissions, aiming to open the project up to multiple conversations and responses.
Choose Your Access Settings
23 March 2021
Choose Your Access Settings was an online conversation between artist Sophie Hoyle and Arjun Harrison-Mann, of Studio Hyte, on accessibility in digital projects and web design.
Using Psychic Refuge as a case study, and drawing from ongoing research grounding the project, Hoyle and Harrison-Mann discussed the collaborative process of creating online spaces where inclusive design can facilitate and highlight a commitment to access and adaptation to different needs and areas of focus.
Studio Hyte is a design studio, working between graphic design, interaction and emergent communication. Our work includes branding, print, website, installation and exhibition design. Specialising in forward thinking, multifaceted visual identities within education and the arts. Whether through commissioned or self-directed work, we aim to create meaningful, accessible and thought provoking work.
Clients include: Furtherfield Gallery, Goethe-Institut, Royal College of Art, British Council, Serpentine Galleries, The Bartlett UCL, Automated Architecture, Forma, UBERMORGEN, Art Jameel, LADA (Live Art Development Agency), The Hologram, Arts Council England. @studiohyte
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About
Unlimited supports ambitious, creative projects by outstanding disabled artists and companies. The commissioning programme, managed by Shape Arts and Artsadmin, aims to change perceptions of disabled people by commissioning disabled artists in the UK and internationally to make new, groundbreaking and high quality work.
Supporters
Psychic Refuge was generously supported by Unlimited.