For this exhibition, Ivan Seal selected ten paintings from his studio and sent them to six people working in the field of psychology, psychotherapy and Gestalt therapy with instructions to respond with a sentence, word or set of words.

The reactions were used by the artist as stimulus for a new set of eleven paintings, starting a game of free association and open interpretation.

The premise for Ivan Seal’s practice is often a word, sentence, or an associative game. Paintings frequently begin with a spoken word. Another piece presented in the exhibition entitled Inventory also involved the reading of a text. Narrated by the artist, one of the most frequently used personality tests, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 in which participants have to answer, “true as applied to you or false as applied to you” played continuously in the gallery space, acting as points of reference, stimulation or association in conjunction with the paintings. Seal read each question with a hypnotic and emotionless voice, a matter-of-fact tone that lead to ad absurdum. The unsaid responses to his questions set the scene for the most intimate of personal responses.
 

Exhibition View

Where Is The Axe2010, oil on canvas, 15,7 x 19,7 in / 40 x 50 cm, Exhibition View

Charlie Chaplin Looking In The Mirror2010, oil on canvas, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm, Exhibition View

An Advert For Anti-Depressants In A Doctors Magazine/ Connection Where Are You2011, oil on canvas, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm

Weight Intended As Burden2011, oil on canvas, 15,7 x 19,7 in / 40 x 50 cm, Exhibition View

Green Wire2011, oil on canvas, 15,7 x 19,7 in / 40 x 50 cm, Exhibition View

Is Something About To Fall/ Portrait Of Giacometti’s Mother/ Portrait Of Giacometti’s Mother2010, 2011, 2010, oil on canvas, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm

Slide Protector2011, oil on canvas, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm, Exhibition View

Constructed Stream Of Consciousness-Narrative Mode Using Six In The Field Of Psychology2011, digitally manipulated spoken word, Exhibition View

Keep Clear Of Me/ The Knödel As Sundial/ If I Were A Dwarf, I Wouldn't Like To Live Here/ Jewelry Shop2010, oil on canvas, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm

A Block For Beheading/ Analyst Couch2011, 2010, oil on canvas, 15,7 x 19,7 in / 40 x 50 cm, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm

Happy In Spite/ Maybe I Want To Put My Hand In It2010, 2011, oil on canvas, 11,8 x 15,7 in / 30 x 40 cm