CHARLEY PETERS (and Charlotte Perkins)

2020-09-15

Dr Charley Peters selects ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Published in 1892, it was inspired by the author’s own experience of post natal depression and the resulting inappropriate treatment she battled against. The short story describes one woman’s descent into madness as she is overtaken by the yellow wallpaper she loathes. Her supposedly devoted husband keeps her isolated in a room, based on the authority of a nasty little cluster of so called expert mental health physicians including his learned self. This only worsens her condition. Charley identifies with the main character’s need for stimulation, for creativity and for a way of being that doesn’t fall subject to a cold logic. She describes the the book as a testament to creativity as a type of freedom, of intellectual freedom, of social freedom. It's also a timely selection as we emerge from lockdown which has been, amongst other things, a challenging time of coping with isolation.

0:00 - 0:22 the book, post natal depression, social repression, marriage, isolation, feminism, inspiration, pattern, gothic horror, human rights, social reform, independence

0:22 - 0:28 project for Hospital Rooms at Bluebird House, a mental health unit in Southampton

0:28 - 0:30 the decorative, design, contrasting unplanned

0:30 - 0:37 Charley's process, creating a ground, building up a painting, blending, tone, 'sb|2m2h (smiling back, too much to handle)' 2020, 'eod/\qtpi (end of discussion, cutie pie)' 2020

0:37 - 0:43 collaboration with Tobias Revell and Wesley Goatley at 'Emergence', London College of Communication as part of London Design Festival 2019, 'charismatic megapigment' 2019, webcam, abstraction, symbol, machine intelligence

0:43 - 0:55 Charley's wider practice, colour, intuition, shape, abstract painting, finishing the painting, physical reaction, phd, drawing, unlearning, boredom

0:55 - 1:03 Charley's writing and influences, Agnes Martin, sensitivity, emptying out, minimalism, Instantloveland, Lee Krasner, female trailblazers, resilience, creative spirit, energy, robots, Judas Priest, cartoons, growing up in Birmingham, staying indoors, painting leather jackets

1:03 - 1:08 Upcoming exhibitions, virtual exhibitions, skateboard auction and what Charley's reading RIGHT NOW!

CHARLEY PETERS

charleypeters.com

BOOKS & WRITERS

‘Women and Economics’ 1898 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

‘The Home, it’s Work and Influence’ 1903 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

‘What Diantha Did’ 1909 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

‘Herland’ 1915 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe

‘A Room of One’s Own’ 1929 by Virginia Wolf

‘Do You Compute’ 2019 by Ryan Mungia and Steven Heller

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