In Conversation: James Paddock and Lisa Slominski

James Paddock poignantly addresses the realities of Voice Hearing in 21st Century Britain and across the Western World. Working with what he calls ‘scenarios’ across three rooms at Exeter Phoenix; Paddock orchestrates video installations of fictional stories navigating the lived experience of receiving a “diagnosis of schizophrenia”. Depicting Voice Hearers as sensitive, thoughtful and caring, Paddock weaves the personal with historical and contradictory, opening up playfully relatable questions about our existence. Underpinned by Paddock’s own delight in finding a sense of equilibrium between himself and his voices, the exhibition aims to supersede our biased beliefs, offering new understandings of fiction, voice and narrative through art.

The exhibition was developed in partnership with curator Lisa Slominski and is supported by Arts Council England.

About James Paddock:
James Paddock is a visual artist working in installation and film who uses his lived experience as a Voice Hearer to create insightful fictional dialogues about living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. He is based in Southampton, UK.

About Lisa Slominski:
Lisa Slominski is an American writer, curator & researcher based in East London. Her work explores activations of access and inclusion in the current contemporary art discourse and examines the historical framework of underrepresented artists with a particular interest in agency.

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