Tate Art Under Hypnosis

A San Francisco-based artist who works in a hypnotised state is to appear at London's Tate Modern as part of the gallery's latest programme of live performances. Matt Mullican says that he is put into the semi-conscious state in order to create his works of art and will arrive at the event already hypnotised. The US painter will then "perform" beneath the bridge in the Gallery's Turbine Hall on January 27th and create his artwork in front of an audience. Mr Mullican is no stranger to performing under hypnosis and has been entertaining art lovers for 30 years. He usually works in black acrylic paint on large sheets of paper. Speaking about his unique way of painting, he said: "It's as if the emotional aspect of a room was distilled and the room doesn't physically exist, but is suggested through hypnosis." The result of painting on canvas in such a way is an assortment of symbols, abstract shapes and repetitive patterns. Audiences will be able to watch the show for anything from five minutes to a longer meditative piece lasting several hours. Irish Art