The Hysteric: Outline of a Figure
In this talk, artists Eleanor Bowen and Laura González will examine historical, clinical, and artistic material, both written and visual, to trace the figure of the contemporary hysteric as she rebels against the impossible demands placed upon her.
Exploring five traits that commonly characterise the hysteric as an archetype – a specific body, mimetic abilities, an air of mystery, a propensity to disappear, and a distinctive relationship with the voice – the artists illuminate what it means to be hysterical, framing it as a form of rebellion and resistance.
The event will be introduced by Dr Giuseppe Albano, Director of the Freud Museum.
Speakers
Laura González is an Athenaeum Research Fellow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Her work inhabits the space between medical humanities, psychoanalysis, performance and Eastern thought. She has written on the seductive qualities of a famous lemon squeezer (2010), and has co-edited collections of essays on art and madness (2013) and on care (2018). She is the author of Make Me Yours: How Art Seduces (2016) and The Hysteric: Outline of a Figure (with Dr Eleanor Bowen, 2023). She has published book chapters on inter-semiotic translation (2019) and her maternal line (2020). She has translated Freud’s case histories into performance and is currently exploring the dramaturgical potential of a breath practice.
Eleanor Bowen is an arts practitioner and writer, currently an associate lecturer at the University of the Arts London. She studied painting at Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts London, and holds an MA in Visual Art and Theatre and a practice-based PhD (Wimbledon School of Art). Her practice operates primarily through sketchbook practice, devised/performed text and paratext, between image and text.
Complement your visit to the Freud Museum with one of our weekly tours or talks led by staff, volunteers and guest speakers.
The talks are free with your admission ticket. Book your admission ticket now!
The event will be held on the first floor of the Museum during regular opening hours. Unfortunately, the Freud Museum does not currently have step-free access. Advance booking is highly recommended, as capacity is limited.
Concessions/Members/Patrons: Please show proof of eligibility/membership card on arrival.
