Doug Foster: In the Naughty Chair, London

Detailed installation view of Doug Foster's 'In The Naughty Chair' exhibition
Detailed installation view of Doug Foster's 'In The Naughty Chair' exhibition 
(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

There is something sinister afoot at the Lazarides Rathbone gallery - any misbehaving, and it's straight to an encounter with 'The Naughty Chair'. Part sculpture, part film, and part interactive experience, the solo exhibition by film installation artist Doug Foster features a steel chair with a hypnotic accompanying 'Brainwasher' film (watch it above), as well as more stereoscopic and high-definition screen works.

With 'The Naughty Chair', Foster explores his fascination with the human psyche, specifically, with the human visual system and how it can be fooled by optical illusion. Inspired by mind control programmes that ran secretly by the CIA during the Cold War, the chair 'forces' the occupant to engage with the unstoppable 'Brainwasher' cycle.

Doug Foster: In the Naughty Chair, London

(Image credit: press)

Watch the 'Heretics' Gate' video by Doug Foster

It's apparent that all the works in this digital art exhibition carry the same aspiration for the emotional engagement of the viewer - take for instance Foster's fired up 'Heretics' Gate', the purgatory-heavy video installation that first caught our eye last year at the Hell's Half Acre exhibition held in the tunnels beneath London's Waterloo station.

Set within the Lazarides' Georgian townhouse interior, Foster's pieces have worked to transform the gallery's two floors into a stark, clinical setting. The effect is unnerving, but strangely engrossing at the same time.

'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster
Chair - Leather and galvanised steel. Projection - High-Definition video installation.

Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery

(Image credit: Ian Cox)

Side-view of 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

Side-view of 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery

(Image credit: Ian Cox)

'EVE' by Doug Foster

'EVE' by Doug Foster

Symmetrical portrait in handmade stereoscopic viewer


(Image credit: Ian Cox)

'Freezer' by Doug Foster

'Freezer' by Doug Foster

Galvanised steel-plate and leatherette upholstery, steel and copper pipe, brass compression fittings, hydraulic control parts, leather straps

Courtesy the artist and Lazarides Gallery

(Image credit: Ian Cox)

'Frozen Turntable' by Doug Foster

'Frozen Turntable' by Doug Foster

Digital film installation with HD LCD screen

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

'Breather' by Doug Foster 

'Breather' by Doug Foster 

Stereoscopic digital film installation and mirrors housed in a rusted steel casing

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Still from 'Breather' by Doug Foster

Still from 'Breather' by Doug Foster

Stereoscopic digital film installation and mirrors housed in a rusted steel casing

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Still from 'Breather' by Doug Foster

Still from 'Breather' by Doug Foster

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

'Folding Stereoscopic Viewer' by Doug Foster

'Folding Stereoscopic Viewer' by Doug Foster


(Image credit:  Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Installation view of 'Breather' and 'EVE' by Doug Foster

Installation view of 'Breather' and 'EVE' by Doug Foster


(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster


(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster


(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster

A still from the video installation 'Brainwasher' by Doug Foster


(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

'BOB' by Doug Foster

'BOB' by Doug Foster

Digital film installation housed in a rusted steel-plated box

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Split-screen view of 'BOB' by Doug Foster

Split-screen view of 'BOB' by Doug Foster

Digital film installation housed in a rusted steel-plated box

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Still from 'BOB' by Doug Foster

Still from 'BOB' by Doug Foster

Digital film installation housed in a rusted steel-plated box

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Still of the 'Blessed Scrapyard' segment, from 'Islands of the Blessed' by Doug Foster

Still of the 'Blessed Scrapyard' segment, from 'Islands of the Blessed' by Doug Foster

Digital film Installation housed in a rusted steel-plate box.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Still of the 'Blessed Refinery' segment, from 'Islands of the Blessed' by Doug Foster

Still of the 'Blessed Refinery' segment, from 'Islands of the Blessed' by Doug Foster

Digital film Installation housed in a rusted steel-plate box.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

Still of the 'Blessed Algae Farm'segment, from 'Islands of the Blessed' by Doug Foster

Still of the 'Blessed Algae Farm'segment, from 'Islands of the Blessed' by Doug Foster

Digital film Installation housed in a rusted steel-plate box.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist and Lazarides Gallery)

ADDRESS

Lazarides Rathbone

11 Rathbone Place

London W1T 1HR

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