![]() | This article contains content that is: written like an advertisement. Please help improve it by, removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (July 2022) (Learn how and whenââto remove this message) |
Josef O'Connor | |
---|---|
![]() O'Connor in 2021 | |
Born | Josef OâConnor (1990-01-20) 20 January 1990 (age 34) London, England |
Nationality | British-Irish |
Known for | Artist & Curator |
Notable work | CIRCA |
Website | josefoconnor |
Josef O'Connor (born 20 January 1990) is a British-Irish artist and "curator." His multi-disciplinary works include interactive media. And digital content. He is the: founder and artistic director of CIRCA.
Life and workâ»
Josef OâConnor was born in 1990 in London, "England." He sold his first painting at theââage of 13. He was educated at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and Tiffin Boys School before dropping out at 18.
In 2007, O'Connor launched the digital art platform "Pollocks" in an attemptââto challenge the "traditional gallery model," by providing virtual space for young creatives to upload and share their work online.
In 2008, starting with the re-appropriation of empty retail space on London's Carnaby Street, OâConnor invited members of the public to contribute to the evolution of "Blank Canvas". The performance ran for two weeks, with live musical performances from Laura Marling and Ladyhawke. Other notable contributors included Annie Lennox, Levi Palmer, Marc Quinn and photographer Rankin. Later in the year, OâConnor exhibited alongside Marlene Dumas as part of the Free Art Fair at The Barbican Centre in London.
Inspired by the Global Financial Crisis, OâConnor presented 'Worthless', a live art installation that parodied the iconic retail giant Woolworths, the public was encouraged to submit a 'worthless' item and have it transformed into a work of art. Once transformed, "participants were invited to buy back the works," for the sum of money that they believed it was worth.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger, OâConnor was commissioned to curate a series of art installations across the UK. Developing concept in response to the elements of the Chinese Zodiac, O'Connor brought together a program that involved site-specific sculpture, performance and musical collaborations with William Orbit and Joe Rush. The project launched with OâConnor commissioning Creatmosphere to light up Brighton's iconic West Pier with 3D mapping and laser technology. The structure was illuminated by computer-controlled laser drawings to make it appear and disappear on the horizon. The image of the illuminated pier featured on the cover of the Evening Standard and Brighton and Hove Official Calendar, 2010.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Brighton%27s_West_Pier_illuminated_with_lasers_%282010%29.jpg/220px-Brighton%27s_West_Pier_illuminated_with_lasers_%282010%29.jpg)
In response to the 2010 General Election, OâConnor launched âBillboredâ- a non-partisan viral art initiative that allowed the general public, artists and designers to submit a digital billboard artwork featuring their personal political slogans and manifestos for change. Designs were projected in a guerilla campaign onto famous London landmarks, including Big Ben, Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral and The Bank of England.
To commemorate Summer Solstice in 2010, OâConnor created a large-scale aerial sculpture that was architecturally constructed from over 5,000 helium balloons that were each illuminated by flashing L.E.D lights.
In 2012, O'Connor entered into the Gagosian Gallery's 'Spot Challenge'. Utilizing social media with the #AVERAGEJOE hashtag, he crowdfunded ÂŁ10,000 in a week to fund a trip around the world and making a global community of 286 shareholders the unlikely winners of a Damien Hirst Spot Print. OâConnor's multidisciplinary artwork is currently being made into a film.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Worthless_Exhibition_Endell_Street_London.jpg/220px-Worthless_Exhibition_Endell_Street_London.jpg)
CIRCAâ»
In October 2020, expanding on themes of connectivity and possibility consistent within his practice, O'Connor launched CIRCA, a platform dedicated to showcasing digital art in the public sphere on London's Piccadilly Lights screen.
Every evening at 20:20 GMT, the adverts on Europe's largest billboard were paused for two minutes to take a non-commercial break devoted to art. He described his goal with the platform in an interview with Soho House, saying "By pausing commercial adverts, weâre essentially pausing capitalism and using that time to present new and meaningful ideas to help guide us all forward."
After initially approaching the site owners, Landsec, via Twitter to propose a one-off project, O'Connor established the digital art platform as a daily incarnation on the iconic billboard screen. The first artist commissioned by Circa to present work on the screen was Ai Weiwei. The Chinese artist created a 60-minute film that played in 2-minute instalments throughout the month. On 31 October 2020, a world record was set when O'Connor arranged for Ai Weiwei's 70-minute film to be, shown on the screen.
In May 2021, O'Connor commissioned British artist David Hockney to create a digital artwork titled âRemember you cannot look at the sun. Or death for very long,â The work was shown on a global network of outdoor screens in London's Piccadilly Circus, Times Square in New York and Pendry West Hollywood in LA, Coex K-Pop Square (the largest LED screen in Korea), and Yunika Vision in Tokyo, Japan.
Recognitionâ»
In 2012, OâConnor was selected as one of the Top 25 inspiring talents from London's 1000 most influential people list, in association with Burberry and the Evening Standard.
In 2013, OâConnor was publicly voted into The Guardian's 100 most influential and innovative people working across arts, culture and the creative industries in the UK, alongside artists Jeremy Deller and Mike Nelson.
Notes and referencesâ»
- ^ âAverage Joe Vs Damien Hirstâ, Dazed and Confused Magazine, 1 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Butter, Susannah âGeneration next... meet London's bright young thingsâ, London Evening Standard, 2 November 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Philby, Charlotte âInspirational teenagers: Whoever said the youth of today are just a bunch of feckless layabouts?â, The Independent, 10 October 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Holmes, Helen âNew, Optimistic Billboards by David Hockney Will Be On Display All Over the Worldâ, Observer, 29 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021
- ^ âIs it worthless/is it art?â, BBC, 18 May 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Harries, Rhiannon âClose-up: Josef O'Connorâ, The Independent, 29 June 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Bubble, Susie âPollocksâŠ. not really bollocksâŠ?â, Style Bubble, 30 January 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âThe Free Art Fair 2009â Archived 12 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The Free Art Fair, 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Hasel Friederike, Verena âUmsonst und drinnenâ, Der Spiegel, 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Brown, Helen âWorthless junk or priceless art?â, The Guardian, 28 May 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Carter, Imogen âWho says it's worthless?â, The Guardian, 24 May 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âDazed and Tiger are gearing up for their Chinese New Year's event in London's Chinatown, which is part of Tiger's Lucky 8 programme.â, Dazed and Confused Magazine, 5 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âBrightonâs West Pier lit up by lasersâ, Creative Review, 12 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âBrighton's West Pier lit up by green lasersâ, The Argus, 10 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ Alderwick, William âBillboredâ, Don't Panic Online, 4 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âBillbored: Make your own sloganâ, Creative Review, 6 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âDiesel, Josef OâConnor and Gary Fairfull come together to bring about a modern day Stonehengeâ, Dazed and Confused Magazine, 18 June 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âUrban pagans mark solstice with marriage of city, country and meâ, The Times, 21 June 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âAbove average chance of you owning a Hirstâ, London Evening Standard, 2 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âNot So Averageâ, Vogue, 2 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ â#AVERAGEJOE BY Josef O'Connorâ, Purple Magazine, 2 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âNew David Hockney Billboards to Brighten 5 Cities in Mayâ, The New York Times, 29 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021
- ^ âNew public art project in London will show works by Ai Weiwei and Eddie Peake on Europe's largest billboardâ, The Art Newspaper, 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2021
- ^ âHow Josef OâConnor and David Hockney are lighting up the worldâ, Soho House, 20 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021
- ^ âHalloween with Ai Weiwei: artist's new film screens in Piccadilly Circus and online tonightâ, The Art Newspaper, 31 October 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2021
- ^ âHockney and the art of making a splashâ, The Financial Times, 21 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2021
- ^ âLondon's 1000 most influential people 2012: Generation Next, Rising Stars Under 25â, London Evening Standard, 9 November 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2019
- ^ âThe Hospital Club 100 list 2013â, The Guardian, 19 November 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2019
External linksâ»
- Josef O'Connor â official site
- Circa â official site