Micheál O’Connell/Mocksim: systems interference artist.
Finding the absurd in everyday sometimes dysfunctional technologies and systems and messing around with them are key activities. There is a performative aspect to the interventions. Afterwards I exhibit photographic and video material, digital or physical readymades. Past work was presented in established locations (e.g. Matt’s Gallery and the Whitechapel, London and Crawford/CiT Wandesford Quay in Cork); an early series
Contra-Invention had been part of
Les Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie d’Arles; and I often work with artist-run, project and off-site spaces, as well as sharing materials online. An Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon Commissions Award facilitated the production of new work for a solo exhibition,
System Interference, at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in 2022, which then travelled to
Wexford Arts Centre, and finally to
Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda completing in February 2024. The tour, initiated by Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre was supported by an Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon Touring Award. Philosopher of aesthetics John Roberts, recently wrote a book which riffs off the work:
Art, Misuse and Technology: Micheál O'Connell's 'System Interference' published by Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in 2022.
Past CV and portfolios:
2022,
2019,
2017, and
2014. Academic:
profile/writing
Sample writing about, interviews or references to the work:
30-Nov-23 Newspaper article, Irish Independent,
You can’t park there sir...
06-Oct-23 Interview, Zoe Camper and Julie Samuels,
Augmented Society Network (ASN) Exhibition
15-Aug-23 Interview, South East Radio, Jim Kealy,
System Interference, Wexford Arts Centre
15-Aug-23 Newspaper article, Irish Independent,
New art installation... divides opinion
30-Apr-23 Computers and Culture, UCC, article, Micheál O'Connell (own),
Systems Interference: new work
08-Jan-23 Interview for The London Group, Sandra Crisp,
A Question of Process
18-Sep-22 Review, criticismism II, Mark Sheerin,
System Interference
17-Sep-22 Gallery Discussion with Caroline Bassett,
Stupidity, Dissent and the Machine
09-Sep-22 Book by John Roberts,
Art, Misuse and Technology
20-Jul-22 Blog, West Cork Arts Centre, Micheál O'Connell (own),
Mocksim at Uillinn
01-Jun-22 Presentation, Digital Art in Ireland, Micheál O'Connell (own),
Systems Interference Art
17-Mar-22 Review/Interview, Ali O'Shea,
Tilting at Windmills, Kara Hearn and Mocksim
06-Dec-21 Review (micro-blog), Gallery Dodo, Jon Carritt and Dan Palmer,
Instagram post
02-Jul-21 Interview, Uillinn Podcast, Gavin Buckley,
Systems Interference Art
12-Jun-21 Interview, University of Sussex symposium, Jason Price,
'Simupoems' call-out, talk, Q&A
22-Jan-21 Interview, Hereford College of the Arts, Daniel Pryde-Jarman,
Talk, Q&A
01-Aug-20 Article, Visual Artists Ireland Newsletter, Chris Steenson,
Have a great time. Cool! Grand.
17-May-20 Interview, Isolation exhibition talk Q&A, Darren Nisbett,
Talk, Q&A
01-Jan-20 Article, Visual Artists Ireland Newsletter, Micheál O'Connell (own),
Golf Courses as Wind Farms
21-Nov-19 Referenced, New Tactical Research, David Garcia,
Beyond the Evidence
02-Oct-18 Referenced, Fifteen Questions music magazine, Daniel Hignell,
Distant Animals
01-Feb-17 Referenced, Contra-Invention, Joan Fontcuberta,
From Here On: Postphotography...
01-Jan-16 Referenced, Contra-Invention, Joan Fontcuberta,
La furia de las imágenes 2nd edition
17-Oct-15 Proceedings, CHART Conference, Micheál O'Connell (own),
Poetics of the Supply Chain
06-Jun-14 Review, Writing in Relation, Yvette Gresle,
Missing You and three other initiatives
11-Sep-13 Reviews, various writers in response to prints,
Yearly Print project
26-Mar-13 Publication, InterArtive, Special Issue #50 Art + Copyright,
Contra-Invention
25-Oct-12 Interview, UCC Radio's Artbeat, Don O'Mahony,
Mocksim at Boundary Work II
14-May-12 Review, criticismism II, Mark Sheerin,
Trainofthoughts @ The Horse Hospital
30-Aug-11 Review, criticismism II, Mark Sheerin,
Contra-Invention
01-Jul-11 Catalogue, C. Chéroux, J. Fontcuberta, E. Kessels, M. Parr, Joachim Schmid,
From Here On
01-Apr-11 Accompanying Text, Time's Gold, Clément Chéroux,
From Here On
16-May-11 Catalogue,
Les Recontres Arles Photography and
Link 2
10-Mar-08 Review, Huw Bartlett,
Feed Lack Loop
02-Dec-07 a-n Review, Rachel Lois Chapman,
Micheal O’Connell’s ‘There is a Failing Man’