Viewing of Work-In-Progress by Mandy O'Neill, DCU Visual Artist in Residence

Image of three buildings photographed by Mandy O'Neill

To conclude her residency, Mandy O'Neill will present some of the striking photographic work she created during her time based at DCU. The residency, and engagement with the wider DCU community has resulted in her current art-practice and she is now undertaking a PhD by Artefact at the School of Communications. This research is funded by the Irish Research Council.

Mandy will present a series of 'works-in-progress' in the historic rooms of Belvedere House, St. Patrick's Campus, DCU on Thursday 11th November at 1pm.

Working Title: Small Worlds: Visualising a transitioning landscape, through photographic strategies, text and engaged research.

The inner suburb of Cabra Dublin 7, is currently undergoing exponential housing and infrastructural development, a level of which has not been seen since the 1930s-40s. A long established, predominantly working class area, its proximity to the city centre, new transport links and the current housing crisis have made the area an attractive prospect. A recent poll on dublinlive.ie rated Cabra as one of the best places to live in Dublin. The premise of this practice-based PhD is to represent the changing landscape of Cabra through a series of photographic and text based strategies, and engagements with people living in the area. This representation will be framed within the wider political landscape of current land development in Ireland, and the geo-historical, cultural and social context of this inner suburb. The research will serve as a valuable archive of Cabra at a time of particular flux, and the resulting artefacts will serve as catalysts for further discussion around the topic of place and the effects of development in Ireland.

Profile of Mandy O'Neill

Biography

Mandy O’Neill is an Irish photographer based in Dublin, Ireland. Her work inhabits a space between social commentary and representational strategies, with an emphasis on the relationship between people and place. Much of her practice has evolved through extended artist residencies in schools and through engagement with young people. Her current research considers the themes of place, belonging and the suburbs, through a case study of the inner suburb of Cabra, Dublin 7. Mandy has an MA in Public Culture Studies and a BA in Photography. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Selected exhibitions include Gallery of Photography Ireland, National Gallery of Ireland, Draíocht and CCI Paris. She received funding from Arts Council of Ireland, Dublin City Council, Creative Ireland and Culture Ireland and was winner of the 2018 Zurich Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland. She has been Artist in Residence at DCU All Hallows since 2019 and is currently undertaking a practice-based PhD at the School of Communications.