within the neoclassical setting of the royal academy of arts’ annenberg courtyard stands an unfamiliar and somewhat unnerving sight. artist cornelia parker has brought ‘psychobarn’ to london, an installation first commissioned for the roof garden at the metropolitan museum of art in new york. stretching more than 30 feet in height, the structure takes aesthetic cues from traditional american barns, and is based on the design of the bates family motel from alfred hitchcock’s cult classic, psycho — which was, in turn, modeled on an edward hopper painting from the 1920s.

cornelia parker psychobarn
artist cornelia parker has brought ‘psychobarn’ to london
image © phil sayer

 

 

parker’s ‘transitional object (psychobarn)’ is a scaled-down façade of a real house, which deliberately reveals its scaffold structure behind it. parker asserts that the installation confronts the ‘polarities of good and evil’ with its contrasting relationship between wholesome american barn, and sinister psychological dwelling. at the royal academy of arts, this series of deliberate paradoxes adds to the illusionary effect, where visitors come face to face with the complexities of parker’s artistic intention. 

cornelia parker psychobarn
the installation is sited within the neoclassical surroundings of the royal academy of arts’ annenberg courtyard 
image © phil sayer

cornelia parker psychobarn
parker’s ‘transitional object (psychobarn)’ is a scaled-down façade of a real house
image © phil sayer

cornelia parker psychobarn
installation view of the MET roof garden commission: cornelia parker, transitional object (psychobarn), 2016
image by alex fradkin, courtesy of the artist