Do you always act in your own best interest?

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Some questions about us was originally commissioned by Bethlem Gallery and installed within the perimeter of the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham, south east London, where it was viewable from the street. A series of questions, associated with the evaluation of mental capacity and personal freedom, are printed onto mirrored placards that reflect the viewer and their direct surroundings. The direct language challenges viewers to consider their own answers and assumptions in relation to these forthright but complex questions.

While the work was installed at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, the placards were anonymously spray-painted with the letters ‘RIP SENI’. Seni was Olaseni Lewis, a young black man who had been a patient at the hospital and died after being subjected to a prolonged physical restraint by police officers in 2010. The Lewis family campaigned for a change to UK law, in order to prevent unnecessary and excessive restraint in mental health units, and this was passed as the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018.

Director Daisy Ifama’s online documentary RIP SENI records conversations about race, mental health and deaths in custody, and was made following the graffiti of this artwork.This work is part of a series of risograph prints based on the original mirrored placards.

Mark Titchner was born in Luton, Bedfordshire. He studied at the Hertfordshire College of Art and Design (1991–92) and at Central St Martins College, London (1992– 95). Titchner was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2006 and exhibited work at the Venice Biennale in 2007. Focusing on an exploration of words and language, in recent years much of his production has been based in the public realm both in the UK and internationally. These public works are often created from extended group activities or collaborations. His work is held in the permanent collections of The Arts Council, British Council, South London Gallery, and Tate.

Places

Subjects

ethics, mental health, well being

Materials & Techniques

paper (as artists material), print (as object name), risograph print, Munken Lynx 170gsm paper

Artist

Mark Titchner (1973 - )

Title

Do you always act in your own best interest?

Portfolio Title

Some questions about us

Edition

Number 2 in an edition of 40

Date

2019

Medium

Risograph print on paper

Dimensions

height: 42 cm; width: 29.7 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Bethlam Gallery, November 2019

Inscription

verso: inscribed by the artist '2/40', bottom left
verso: inscribed by the artist 'MT 2019', bottom right

Provenance

Bethlam Gallery; from whom purchased by UK Government Art Collection, 2019

GAC number

18830/7