Biosystem

Biosystem (I, II, III, VI, V, VI, VII, VIII and ongoing). Latest iteration commissioned by Museum of Fine Art (MoFA), Florida State University (Biosystem VIII, 2024).

Living orbs made with air and soil-based plants, preserved and living mosses, and other mixed media. First conceived in 2010 (Biosystem I), each iteration is a new generation and/or unique composition of living organisms that allude to temporality and the cycle of life, nature as an interconnected system, the proposition of viewing Earth as a super-organism, and other ecological themes. Arranged in the gallery as a ‘constellation,’ the work also has references in science fiction and speculation on the extent of life (or lack thereof) across the universe. Orbs range from 12 – 24″ diameter. An image list and radio interview on the project is provided below.

Please click on the images to open the gallery.

Image list:

1. ‘Biosystem V’ at What is Life? Wexford County Council and Trinity College Dublin, 2018
2. ‘Biosystem VIII’ at Talamh agus Teanga: Land and Language in Contemporary Irish Art, Florida State University (FSU) Museum of Fine Art, USA. Installation recreated at direction of the artist by Kelly Hendrickson and Tim Carter. 2024
3. ‘Biosystem IV’ (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018
4. ‘Biosystem VIII’ (detail) at Talamh agus Teanga: Land and Language in Contemporary Irish Art, Florida State University (FSU) Museum of Fine Art, USA. 2024
5. ‘Biosystem III’ at Grizedale Sculpture, Cumbria, United Kingdom, 2017
6. ‘Biosystem V’ at What is Life? Wexford County Council and Trinity College Dublin, 2018
7. ‘Biosystem IV’ (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018
8. ‘Biosystem IV’ at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018
9. ‘Biosystem IV’ (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018
10. ‘Biosystem II’ at Dublin Biennial, Dublin, Ireland. 2014
11. Méadhbh O’Connor photographing ‘Biosystem V,’ 2018.
12. Méadhbh O’Connor examining the first ever ‘Biosystem I,’ 2010. At Moxie Studios/IMOCA, formerly Dublin 2, Ireland.
13. First ever test installation of ‘Biosystem 1,’ 2010. Shown first at the NLA: The New Living Art Exhibition, IMOCA, Lad Lane, D2, IRL. Curated by Claire Feeley and K Bear Koss.
14. An early biosphere in the studio. 2010.