Psychosomatic is a major new work by artist Richard Layzell using material gathered over a seven-year research period, and is his first feature-length film. The work exists fleetingly as a not-to-be-missed event, screening with a live performance in which Layzell intervenes in the narrative of the film.
Psychosomatic explores what happens when ecology meets art practice, with themes touching on ecological breakdown and social justice. One event leads to another. A chance encounter leads to a discovery. It’s impressive. It’s absurd. It’s a journey across five continents and a record of the artist as traveller, performer, photographer and trickster.
In a career spanning 45 years, Richard Layzell has worked with most major UK public galleries and museums. He is a writer, performer, sculptor, filmmaker and the author of Enhanced Performance (ed. Deborah Levy) and Cream Pages (ed. Joshua Sofaer). His immersive installation Tap Ruffle and Shave was experienced by 100,000 people across the UK, and his work with communities, from Canvey Island to Shanghai, has been internationally recognised.
Since 2018, while undertaking research for Psychosomatic, he has been Creative Ecologist at LUX.
