Oliver Clegg's latest work is installed throughout, and inspired by, the rooms of the Freud Museum in London. Its title Night's Move is taken from Freud's reference to chess Studies on Hysteria (1893), and his theory that the snaking move of the Knight on a chess board is comparable to the workings of the human mind. This theme is explored throughout the collection – most strikingly in the installation of an exquisitely constructed chess set, displayed mid-way through a one-man game in Freud's bedroom, the pieces including replicas of the psychologist's favorite antiquities and the board laid out on an exact replica of Freud's famous desk, with its anthropomorphic chair.

The exhibition also includes an extensive collection of Clegg's signature paintings; haunting, lonely portraits of abandoned and disarrayed toys in stark and unsettling scenes, painted onto intricately prepared drawing boards that play with illusions of light and depth, adding to their melancholy and drama – each one accompanied by provoking references to Freud's psychology and the poetry of Heinrich Heine.

As a whole the collection explores the wider theme of 'play'– inspired in part by Freud's essay "creative writers and the daydream", and his theory that the fantasy world of childhood is lost under the pressures and necessities of adult life, but can be perpetuated by writers and artists through their work. It includes tapestries, etchings and a sculpture constructed of original Tarok cards, displayed amongst the analyst's living and working space.

Dazed Digital: Tell me about the chess set.
Oliver Clegg: The chess pieces themselves are made from 16 antiquities selected from Freud's 2000 strong collection.  Using laser technology we were able to scan the pieces and reconstruct them. One side of the chess board has been made to look like exactly like the originals, right up the last detail, finish and colour. The other side is produced from the same moulds, therefore keeping exactly the same form, but is made from clear resin. There is only one chair by the table - Freud's desk chair. It is therefore presented as a one man game - a game that Freud is playing with himself - a personification of the internal dialogue of Freud as he sits at his desk.

DD: How important are the themes and study of psychoanalysis in your work overall?
OC: I think that the themes and study of psychoanalysis are likely to be relevant in the consideration of any artists work to a greater or lesser extent. For this show I decided it would be more interesting to focus on the humanity or humility of Freud rather than Freud the Legend and the Giant.

DD: You reference the poems of Heinrich Heine in your paintings – who famously said 'Don't send a poet to London', do you draw a lot of inspiration from this city & how do you think it compares in that respect to the rest of the world?
OC: The reference to Heine in the etchings was more to express the relationship between Freud and this writer.   In his writings, Freud only really mentions two writers - Shakespeare and Heine. He uses quotes from their literature as support to his own ideas and suggestions. In this way we can understand his desire to be in some way affiliated to these writers - whom he clearly admired.

I do draw a lot of inspiration from London and perhaps the melancholy that prevails in my work is a response of the intensity of living in such a vibrant and diverse environment. I think that art is definitely born from context.

DD: What's next for you?
OC: I am in a drawing show that opens this week at the Purdy Hicks gallery - this group show includes work by Keith Tyson and the Chapmans. In November I will be showing work at Artissima in Turin with an Italian gallery Unosunove - other artists exhibiting with them will be Carla Matti, Jamie Shovlin and Matt Collishaw. In January the chess piece will move to Reykjavik Museum of Modern art in show entitled 32 that will include chess sets by contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst, The Chapman brothers, Maurizio Cattelan, Rachel Whiteread, Gavin Turk, Tracey Emin and other artists who have made chess sets such as Marcel Duchamp and Max Ernst. This show is set to move around Europe in the next year. Other projects next year will also include other group shows in Italy and in London.

Night's Move is at the Freud Museum, 20 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SX until November 23.