People with the condition (which usually lasts around a week) can be found in and around the holy sites of the city, chanting, singing, and delivering sermons as if they were living in the time of Christ. In one report 42 people out of the 470 studied had no previous psychiatric problems. Of that 42, 40 were protestant, whose family were strict and devout Bible-reading, mid American Christians.

After the initial four day visit this month - supported by British Council Israel - Nathan will return to Jerusalem in the summer to record his investigation into the syndrome with visits to a number of locations in the Holy City. In addition to this unconventional documentation of pilgrim sites - The Wailing Wall around midnight, the Rock of the Dome and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - a number of interviews are also planned with officials that have come into contact with the syndrome including local psychiatric doctors.

Nathan Coley said, "I am really pleased to be able to continue my working relationship with University of Dundee, following the completion of my Henry Moore Fellowship in Sculpture in 2003. This is one of my major projects in 2004 and it is particularly special to me as it will be the first time I have exhibited in my home city of Dundee."

Jenny Brownrigg, Curator of University of Dundee Exhibitions Department said, "We are delighted to have been granted awards from the Scottish Arts Council and British Council Israel and are looking forward to working with Nathan Coley on this highly ambitious project. We are pleased that the University of Dundee is able to continue its links with such a prominent national and international artist."

Jerusalem Syndrome will be an important development of Coley's ongoing enquiry into place, identity and belief. Following on from Coley's work as unofficial artist-in-residence at the Lockerbie Trial, followed by an exhibition at Tate Britain last year (and at the Fruitamrket Gallery this summer), the artist has successfully campaigned to bring the original Lockerbie witness box to the Imperial War Museum in London. As in many of his works, it is the particular reaction to a specific place that Coley is interested in, and as ever, an attempt to make sense of it in the wider world.

The video installation and exhibition will show in the Cooper Gallery, DJCAD, from November 1-30, 2004.

Editors' notes

Call the press office for interviews with Nathan on his return next week.

Research in Jerusalem Syndrome has revealed that those affected are aware of what is happening to them. Although altered in state, those affected report that they do not hear voices or receive visions during their manifestation. On the contrary they testify that they know who they were, and perceive everything as normal during the episode. Afterwards they can remember all that had happened.

The project is being supported by Angus Digital Media Centre in the post-production stage. The Scottish Arts Council has provided £10,888 towards costs.

Nathan Coley
- explores place, identity, belief, often with reference to real world events
- unofficial artist-in-residence at Lockerbie trial
- based in Dundee and was at DJCAD on the Henry Moore Fellow in Sculpture scheme (see www.dundee.ac.uk/pressoffice/contact/2002/feb/nathancoley.htm, following the success of the scheme at DJCAD with Simon Starling
- also working on commission for the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, recreating Scottish places of worship

By Esther Black, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, e.z.black@dundee.ac.uk