This video, newly commissioned by Pioneer Works, delves into the shaking body as both a symptom and a remedy for psychic distress. It traces the lineage of psychosomatic disorders from historical hysteria to contemporary diagnoses such as 'psychogenic non-epileptic seizures' and spirit possession. It was developed over nine years of intense conversation and friendship with poet Ariana Reines. The video features therapeutic movement exercises and an investigative report uncovering mysteries at Paris’s Salpêtrière Hospital which is regarded as the birthplace of modern neurology and psychology.
Laser’s film connects historical narratives to modern psychotherapy, using a television reportage style of interviews with doctors, historians, and dance therapists. Filmed in collaboration with French journalist Laura Geisswiller, Convulsive States features interviews with doctors, historians and dance therapists. These conversations are interwoven with meditative footage that spirals around the sculptures and images of Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, rendering visible the history of hysteria and its continuing influence demonstrated in recent events, including the outbreaks of TikTok tics spread via social media. As the film progresses, Laser's perspective shifts from objective journalism to her own experience of the psychosomatic condition she set out to study. Laser raises questions about historically derogatory views of hysteria and our current cultural turn towards 'somatic therapies' as the cure for trauma.
This event is part of Liz Magic Laser’s residency ‘Ocular Choreography’ with the Public Programmes team. It is part of the New Perspectives series, supported by the TERRA Foundation for American Art.
Programme
18.30 Introduction
18.35 Liz Magic Laser Convulsive States 2023, film, 54 minutes.
19.30 Conversation and Q+A between Sonia Epstein and Liz Magic Laser
20.00 Event End
The film will be captioned and the conversation after the screening will be BSL interpreted.
Convulsive States is commissioned by Pioneer Works and features cinematography by Laura Geisswiller; video editing by Isaac Goes and Michelle Yoon; sound design by Jared Arnold; musical recordings by GOBBY; Colorist: Nic Seago; Subtitle Translator: Charlotte de Mezamat.
Convulsive States is commissioned by Pioneer Works and features cinematography by Laura Geisswiller; video editing by Isaac Goes and Michelle Yoon; sound design by Jared Arnold; musical recordings by GOBBY; Colorist: Nic Seago; Subtitle Translator: Charlotte de Mezamat; voice narration by Helen Laser; interviews with the staff of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, including neurologist Dr. Martin Catala, psychiatrist Dr. David Cohen, Father Frederic Louzeau, neurologist Dr. Vincent Navarro, dance therapist Svetlana Panova, neurologist Dr. Emmanuel Flamand Roze, and dance therapist France Schott-Billmann; and additional interviews with artist and tai chi instructor Fabrice Brunet, journalist Hélène Combis, librarian and archivist Remi Gaillard, and journalist Virginie Girod. The artist offers special thanks to historian Asti Hustvedt for sharing research, the memory of Dr. Catherine Bouchara, who staged the seminal exhibition Charcot, une vie avec l'image at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, the School of Visual Arts MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department for equipment support, and Zhu Miansheng of Ars Asiatica and Emmanuel Roussille for supporting the participation of artist Fabrice Brunet. Additional thanks to Manuel David, Joan Dupont and Vanessa Gould.
Liz Magic Laser: Convulsive States was made possible by generous funding from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. It is also supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, as well as the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Liz Magic Laser
Liz Magic Laser is a multimedia video and performance-based artist from New York City. Her recent work explores the efficacy of new age techniques and psychological methods active in both corporate culture and political movements. Laser’s work has been shown at venues such as The Smithsonian American Art Museum (2023); ICA Boston (2023); Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen (2022); Guggenheim Museum, New York (2021); MUDAM The Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg (2021). Her work has been critically acclaimed in publications such as Text zur Kunst, Artforum, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Frieze, and Art in America.
Sonia Shechet Epstein
Sonia Shechet Epstein is Curator of Science and Technology and Executive Editor, Sloan Science & Film at Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. She is a trustee of the On the Water Chapter of the Awesome Foundation, was recently selected to be part of Berlinale Talents, and was a founding mentor of the New Museum’s incubator NEW INC. She lectures internationally on the intersection of science and cinema.
A combined ticket is available for Convulsive States and Science, Body, Anatomy Day Two - £15 for both events.
Call 020 7887 8888 to book (10.00-17.00 daily)
All Tate Modern entrances are step-free.
The Starr Cinema is on Level 1 of the Natalie Bell Building. There are lifts to every floor of the Blavatnik and Nathalie Bell buildings. Alternatively you can take the stairs.
There is space for wheelchairs and a hearing loop is available.
All works screened in the Starr Cinema have English captions.
The conversation afterwards will be BSL interpreted.
- Fully accessible toilets are located on every floor on the concourses.
- A quiet room is available to use in the Natalie Bell Building on Level 4.
- Ear defenders can be borrowed from the Ticket desks.
To help plan your visit to Tate Modern, have a look at our visual story. It includes photographs and information about what you can expect from a visit to the gallery.
For more information before your visit:
- Email hello@tate.org.uk
- Call +44 (0)20 7887 8888 – option 1 (daily 09.45–18.00)
