Dragging a wheelie case behind them, Ashley arrives at an isolated beachside cottage. They hope that this weekend in the countryside might be the change they need: a change from depression, from heartbreak, from the pain of a shifting identity. As the weekend unfolds, however, their hope wavers: things go wrong in their body, or perhaps in their mind — or perhaps there really is something, outside, developing an appetite for them...

Ashley(2020) is a semi-autobiographical rural horror film filmed on the West Coast of Scotland, designed for cinema viewing. Its only character is played onscreen by the artist, and voiced in narration by the poet and performance maker Travis Alabanza. Drawing on the conventions of the rural horror genre (seen in television series such as the BBC’s West Country Tales, 1982–83) and of Margaret Tait’s work in the Scottish landscape tradition, the film takes an experience of modern femininity and mines it for terror. In doing so, it animates the fears, stresses, and vivid transformations of a certain kind of trans life.

Alongside the film itself, the exhibition includes Ashley’s oil (2020), a room scent co-composed by Jamie, Charlotte Percival, John Turrell, and Tom Turrell, who shot Ashley together in July 2019. Reflecting the landscape of the film, as well as memories of filming it, the oil brings the redolence of wet, woody things into the gallery, as well as citronella to repel midges.

In the library an untitled collage on a dark grey felt board includes an oil pastel drawing by Jamie, as well as the original title cards filmed for Ashley’s opening, intertitles, and credits.

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Captioned Screening Schedule

Wednesdays at 1:30pm

Thursdays at 12pm & 3pm

Fridays at 1:30pm

Saturdays at 12pm & 3pm

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Visiting LUX

We are delighted to reopen the gallery on 3 December with additional safety measures in place.

Opening hours: Wed-Sat, 12-4pm

The LUX library and shop are currently closed.

Safety Information:

• Book a time slot in advance using an online booking system. Each slot has one bookable ticket that will admit an individual or up to six people from one household or support bubble.

• Please make sure to arrive on time. The film is 45 minutes long and will screen once within the one-hour slot.

• Email us at events@lux.org.uk if you wish to change or cancel your booking.

• All visitors and staff are asked to wear a face mask unless you are exempt from this requirement. We will have disposable masks available at the reception.

• Use the hand sanitizer provided on the entry to the building.

• You can use the NHS Track and Trace app to check-in or leave your contact details.

• Please follow the one-way route and adhere to social distancing to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

• Please stay home if you feel unwell.

• Please note that this exhibition contains an artwork that uses scents. The gallery space will be diffused with scented essential oils throughout the exhibition.

If you have special access needs to attend our events please contact us at +44(0)20 3141 2960 or events@lux.org.uk.