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  1. Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video installation, 11:50 minutes. Developed with therapeutic activities conducted in collaboration with Certified Professional Life Coach Valerie Bell. Courtesy of the artist, Various Small Fires, Los Angeles and Wilfried Lentz, Rotterdam.

  2. Liz Magic Laser’s mixed media installation, Primal Speech (2016), constructs a futuristic version of a political primal scream room. The grey padded walls and therapeutic props such as pillows and stuffed animals based on political party logos, are punched or embraced in Laser's adaptation of Primal Therapy methods demonstrated in a video embedded in the wall.

    For the video Laser assembled a therapy group composed of actors with opposing political convictions about Brexit and the 2016 U.S presidential election. She collaborated with certified professional life coach, Valerie Bell, trained in primal therapy techniques, to “treat” the actors, encouraging them to revisit and conflate their personal histories with their political frustrations.

    Developed by Arthur Janov in the 1970s, Primal Therapy was a radical approach that involved abreaction: the cathartic re-experiencing of a traumatic event. In this practice, the therapist coaches the patients to reenact scenes from their past and free themselves from the neurotic repetition of unhealthy behaviors. Laser adapts this palliative method of clarifying emotional expression to process recent political debates. The project elaborates on a theme central to Laser’s work: the appropriation of communication techniques and psychological methods appropriated by corporate and political cultures in order to revive their therapeutic potential.

    Credits:
    Featuring actors Gisela Chípe (Lead), Armeliane Bindickou, Adam Davenport, Mari Hayes, Adele Jacques, Rhiannon Lattimer and Tom Staggs; Director of Photography: Chris Heinrich; Assistant Director: Hanna Lea Novak; Assistant Camera: Sam Krebs; Audio Engineer: Joe Quartararo; Audio Assistant: Trevor Hoar; Casting Assistant: Rachel Zaretsky; Editors: Liz Magic Laser and Ben Bernstein; Therapist’s script written in collaboration with Valerie Bell with contributions from Gisela Chípe. Produced with support from Various Small Fires, Los Angeles.

  3. Related Material+

  4. Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video installation, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread and Velcro. Installation detail.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video installation, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread and Velcro. Installation detail.

    Screaming Vase, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Porcelain, wood, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, Plexiglas 72 x 72 x 14 in., installation detail.

    Screaming Vase, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Porcelain, wood, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, Plexiglas 72 x 72 x 14 in., installation detail.

    What’s been bothering you?, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    What’s been bothering you?, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    What’s been bothering you?, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    What’s been bothering you?, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    The Primal Scream, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    The Primal Scream, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    The Primal Scream, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    The Primal Scream, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

    Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

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      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

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      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.

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      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

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      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

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      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, video still.

    • 6

      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video installation, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread and Velcro. Installation detail.

    • 7

      Screaming Vase, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Porcelain, wood, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, Plexiglas 72 x 72 x 14 in., installation detail.

    • 8

      What’s been bothering you?, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    • 9

      What’s been bothering you?, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    • 10

      The Primal Scream, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

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      The Primal Scream, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, Mirrored dibond, polyurethane foam, vinyl thread, Velcro 72 x 72 x 2 in., installation detail.

    • 12

      Primal Speech, Liz Magic Laser, 2016, single-channel video, LED display, polyurethane foam, vinyl, thread, Velcro, mirrored dibond, porcelain, wood, Plexiglas, felt, wire, synthetic fiber batting, grey carpet, 72 x 288 x 146 inches.