Art From The Outside

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Adolf Wolfli

20230130

Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates 'outsider art.' Art created by the marginalised, the untrained, those outside the establishment.

She begins with an essay on 'the Picasso of psychotic art' Adolf W怀lfli. He called himself The Holy St Adolf the Second, master of algebra, military commander in chief, and chief music director, giant theatre director, captain of the almighty giant steamship and doctor of arts and sciences. Confined to the Waldu asylum in Switzerland for more than half his life, the Surrealist artist Andr退 Breton referred to W怀lfli's art as one of the three or four most important bodies of works of the twentieth century.

W怀lfli's output was prodigious and it's this compulsion to create that Victoria wants to explore - was painting a release from his mental anguish or was the urge part of the torment?

Madge Gill

20230131

Unconventionality is a quality celebrated in art, and no-one demonstrates it better than Madge Gill. Psychologist Prof Victoria Tischler explores this mesmerising artist's work.

Her embroidered calicos, some 40 metres in length are full of elegant black lines filling every space of the fabric, in patterns that appear to form a winding staircase and chequerboard tiles, similar to those that would have been fashionable in the Victorian and Edwardian times in which she lived.

The fact that Gill became an artist at all was unconventional enough. Born out of wedlock in the working class east end of London, she was sent to Canada aged nine as part of a child labour scheme. It was just one of the many tragedies and hardships to befall her in her life, yet her artistic output is testimony to her efforts not to be defined by them.

Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.

Mary Barnes

20230201

Few artists can rival Mary Barnes for the sheer honesty of experience conveyed in paintings she created while in the grips of psychosis. Her 'IT' series of paintings are a brutal depiction of severe mental illness, and some of the best visual examples of the pathos and terror of the experience.

In later life when her mental health recovered she began to exhibit her work and to give lectures on mental health, psychotherapy, and the importance of creativity in her recovery.

For psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler she's drawn to Mary's work as it is more than an illustration of mental illness but also a story of the power of honesty to find truth, hope and salvation.

Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.

Minnie Evans

20230202

In this essay on untrained and self-taught artists, psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler focuses on devotion and the important role of faith and belief and how it manifests artistically.

Now considered one of the most important folk artists of the 20th century, Minnie Evans was born in 1892 in a cabin in North Carolina, the great-granddaughter of a slave from Trinidad.

She attributed much of her inspiration to religious visions she began having as a child. `God has sent me an angel that stands by me. It stands with me and directs me what to do`. But from these humble beginnings, Evans work has gone on to grace the central pavilion at the Venice Biennale in the summer 2022.

Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.

Shinichi Sawada

20230203

Perhaps above all, the artistic quality we prize most is imagination. Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler explores the enigmatic work of ceramicist Shinichi Sawada.

Shinichi's sculptures look like small demons or monsters. The organic forms are covered with clay studs that resemble spikes, some forming mask-like facial figures, like totem poles.

As an artist with autism, Shinichi is largely non-verbal, so he can't explain the meaning of his work, allowing the viewers' imagination to run riot. The best way to experience any art.

Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
Adolf Wolfli	20230130	Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates 'outsider art.' Art created by the marginalised, the untrained, those outside the establishment. She begins with an essay on 'the Picasso of psychotic art' Adolf W怀lfli. He called himself The Holy St Adolf the Second, master of algebra, military commander in chief, and chief music director, giant theatre director, captain of the almighty giant steamship and doctor of arts and sciences. Confined to the Waldu asylum in Switzerland for more than half his life, the Surrealist artist Andr退 Breton referred to W怀lfli's art as one of the three or four most important bodies of works of the twentieth century. W怀lfli's output was prodigious and it's this compulsion to create that Victoria wants to explore - was painting a release from his mental anguish or was the urge part of the torment?
Madge Gill	20230131	Unconventionality is a quality celebrated in art, and no-one demonstrates it better than Madge Gill. Psychologist Prof Victoria Tischler explores this mesmerising artist's work. Her embroidered calicos, some 40 metres in length are full of elegant black lines filling every space of the fabric, in patterns that appear to form a winding staircase and chequerboard tiles, similar to those that would have been fashionable in the Victorian and Edwardian times in which she lived. The fact that Gill became an artist at all was unconventional enough. Born out of wedlock in the working class east end of London, she was sent to Canada aged nine as part of a child labour scheme. It was just one of the many tragedies and hardships to befall her in her life, yet her artistic output is testimony to her efforts not to be defined by them. Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.
Mary Barnes	20230201	Few artists can rival Mary Barnes for the sheer honesty of experience conveyed in paintings she created while in the grips of psychosis. Her 'IT' series of paintings are a brutal depiction of severe mental illness, and some of the best visual examples of the pathos and terror of the experience. In later life when her mental health recovered she began to exhibit her work and to give lectures on mental health, psychotherapy, and the importance of creativity in her recovery. For psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler she's drawn to Mary's work as it is more than an illustration of mental illness but also a story of the power of honesty to find truth, hope and salvation. Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.
Minnie Evans	20230202	In this essay on untrained and self-taught artists, psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler focuses on devotion and the important role of faith and belief and how it manifests artistically. Now considered one of the most important folk artists of the 20th century, Minnie Evans was born in 1892 in a cabin in North Carolina, the great-granddaughter of a slave from Trinidad. She attributed much of her inspiration to religious visions she began having as a child. `God has sent me an angel that stands by me. It stands with me and directs me what to do`. But from these humble beginnings, Evans work has gone on to grace the central pavilion at the Venice Biennale in the summer 2022. Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.
Shinichi Sawada	20230203	Perhaps above all, the artistic quality we prize most is imagination. Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler explores the enigmatic work of ceramicist Shinichi Sawada. Shinichi's sculptures look like small demons or monsters. The organic forms are covered with clay studs that resemble spikes, some forming mask-like facial figures, like totem poles. As an artist with autism, Shinichi is largely non-verbal, so he can't explain the meaning of his work, allowing the viewers' imagination to run riot. The best way to experience any art. Psychologist Professor Victoria Tischler celebrates outsider art.