New film commission by Jordan Baseman explores the full spectrum of human emotion at The Box this summer
22 July 2026
The Box Plymouth is presenting a new film commission by artist and filmmaker Jordan Baseman as part of its ‘Summer of Expression’ – a programme of exhibitions and events that’s exploring the power of thoughts, feelings and emotions through art over the next few months.
Titled Pro Grip (How to be Humans), Baseman’s multi-channel film will be on display until 21 October 2026. The work is the final commission created as part of The Box's British Film Institute-supported Reimagining the Film Archive programme, a three-year project that has invited contemporary artists to explore and reinterpret its moving image archives in new and unexpected ways.
Drawing on footage from the Television South West (TSW) archive at The Box, the film features scenes from Pro Grip, a television broadcast covering the 1990 UK Arm-Wrestling Championships, and combines it with a specially commissioned interview featuring psychologist Dr Gray Atherton from the University of Plymouth.
Together, the two elements explore how humans communicate emotion through movement, gesture and facial expression, examining the ways in which we recognise authenticity, empathy, and connection beyond spoken language.
The film presents the physical and emotional intensity of competitive arm-wrestling as a lens through which to consider wider questions about human behaviour, communication, and social bonding.
Born in the United States in 1960, Baseman is an artist and filmmaker who is now based in London. His work frequently explores memory, psychology, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. He currently teaches at the Royal College of Art and has exhibited in the UK and abroad.
Tony Davey, engagement officer at The Box Plymouth, said:
Jordan Baseman's commission is a powerful and thought-provoking conclusion to our Reimagining the Film Archive programme. By combining television footage from our extensive media archive with contemporary psychological research, it offers visitors a fresh perspective on what it means to be human. It also demonstrates the creative possibilities that emerge when artists engage with archive collections. We can’t wait to see how our visitors react to it.
The commission has been supported by Plymouth City Council, the British Film Institute and Arts Council England. Baseman worked closely with Dr Gray Atherton, alongside Dr Liam Cross and Dr Jackie Andrade – all psychologists from the University of Plymouth – during the development of the project.
Pro Grip (How to be Humans) is on display until 21 October 2026. Admission is free and there’s no need to book.
Find out more about the Reimagining the Film Archive programme.
Find out more about Jordan Baseman.