Kings Artist Summary

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KINGS ARTIST VISUAL SUMMARY 

Izzy Parker and Dr Gemma Modinos IOPPN 

Between Autumn of 2019 and Summer 2021 Izzy Parker-Nasir has been an artist in residence at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at Kings College London. Where she is working together with neuroscientist Dr Gemma Modinos in a science/art collaboration to develop a creative public engagement programme centering craft and environment as a tool of emotive expression to help better identify and process emotion.   

 

Before the pandemic, 

• Izzy shadowed an MRI scan

• sat in on a monthly department meeting

• gave an introduction to her work at a Psychosis Studies talk

• delivered a lecture and trial workshop to Gemma’s MSc students. 

• we formed a partnership with Southwark Young Advisors, through Chloe Newman, Youth Inclusion & Projects Manager at Southwark council and secured Jack Hobbs youth centre at Brandon Estate as a potential venue to run our workshops

• we spoke with Consultant Psychiatrist Eduardo Lacoponi about how best to deliver workshops to clinical services OASIS, LEO & STEP 

• we applied for Wellcome Trust public engagement enhancement funding through Gemma’s fellowship and although was asked to re-submit was sadly unsuccessful

• We also discussed potential partnership with Chris McGinley who leads the age and diversity research group at The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design had the Wellcome Trust funding been awarded

 

Since the COVID19 pandemic we had to re-adjust our collaboration in the best way we could, adapting the physical aspirations for our project into a more remote way of working.   

 

Supported in addition by the Arts Council England Izzy designed and facilitated remote immersive emotive making arts workshops. Using all the 5 senses she encourages participants to use taste, smell and sound to create an environment at home that’s allowed them to tap into their emotions. By experimenting with form, colour, scale and texture Izzy guided participants to create mini sculptures to express the four basic emotions “happy” “sad” “angry” and “scared”.  She sent out physical making packs to each participant and then hosted group making workshops over zoom. 

 

So far we have delivered 

• 4 virtual workshops for Southwark Young Advisors (8 participants) 

• 2 virtual workshops for Freshers Welcome Week at KCL (10 participants) 

• 2 virtual workshops for Bethlem Gallery. (service users and staff – approx. 8 each time) 

• an online WIP exhibition https://bethlemgallery.com/making-emotions/

• 1 virtual workshop for 5 OASIS CHR service users with Lucy Oates (specialist key worker/community mental health nurse)

• 1 virtual workshop as part of the Dev Neuro Academy Summer School for six-formers with Dr Leigh Wilson Public Engagement Manager for Outreach and Education atMRC Centre for Neurodevelopment Disorders at KCL (55 participants)

•x2 in-person workshops during World Mental Health Day (10 participants each time) at Ortus in Denmark Hill.

 

To wrap up the residency I created a tactile arch way which I showcased during WMHD

 

To further our collaboration in 2022 Izzy ran Comb workshops at Lambeth Hospital acute mental health wards (Leo, Rosa Parks, Florence) with support from Gemma’s lab members as part of her NDBH commission from Bethlem Gallery and the Maudsley.

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