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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.

'Biosystem V.' An installation of living orbs by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the exhibition 'What is Life? Schrödinger 75,' Wexford County Council and Trinity College Dublin, 2018. Curated by Prof Cliona O' Farelly.
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'Biosystem VIII.' An installation of living orbs by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the exhibition 'Talamh agus Teanga: Land and Language in Contemporary Irish Art,' Museam of Fine Art, Florida State University, USA, 2024. Curated by Dr Kristin Dowell.
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'Biosystem IV' (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018. A gallery visitor admires sculpture by Méadhbh O'Connor of living orbs.
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'Biosystem VIII.' [Detail]. An installation of living orbs by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the exhibition 'Talamh agus Teanga: Land and Language in Contemporary Irish Art,' Museam of Fine Art, Florida State University, USA, 2024. Curated by Dr Kristin Dowell.
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'Biosystem III.' Solo exhibition by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at Grizedale Sculpture, Cumbria, UK, 2017. Installation of living orbs.
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A visitor observes Méadhbh O'Connor's sculptural installation 'Biosystem V' at the exhibition 'What is Life? Schrödinger 75,' Wexford County Council and Trinity College Dublin, 2018. Large installation view. Curated by Prof Cliona O' Farelly.
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'Biosystem IV' (detail) by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the exhibition 'Sustainable Futures,' Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland, 2018. Living orbs.
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'Biosystem IV' by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the exhibition 'Sustainable Futures,' Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland, 2018. A visitor admires the installation of living orbs.
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'Biosystem IV' (detail) by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the exhibition 'Sustainable Futures,' Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland, 2018. Living orbs.
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'Biosystem II' by visual artist Méadhbh O'Connor at the 'Dublin Biennial,' Dublin, Ireland, 2014. Photo credit: David Orr. An installation of floating. living orbs
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Méadhbh O'Connor documenting her own sculpture 'Biosystem V' at the exhibition 'What is Life? Schrödinger 75,' Trinity College Dublin and Wexford County Council. Curated by Prof Cliona O' Farelly.
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A young artist Méadhbh O'Connor, a year after graduating, observing her first ever creation of 'Biosystem I' an ongoing project of generations of living orbs in the former Moxie Studios, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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'Biosystem I, ' an ongoing project of generations of living orbs first conceived by Méadhbh O'Connor in 2010. Photographed as the first installation (or generation) of the living sculptural project in Moxie Studios, formerly of Dublin 4, Ireland.
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'Biosystem I, ' an ongoing project of generations of living orbs, first conceived by Méadhbh O'Connor in 2010. Detail of one of her earliest biospheres in Moxie Studios, formerly of Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Image list:

  1. ‘Biosystem V’ at What is Life? Wexford County Council and Trinity College Dublin, 2018. Curated by Prof Cliona O’Farrelly, TCD.
  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. Curated by Dr Kristin Dowell.
  3. ‘Biosystem IV’ (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018. Curated by Claire Ryan.
  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. Curated by Dr Kristin Dowell.
  5. ‘Biosystem III’ at Grizedale Sculpture, Cumbria, United Kingdom, 2017. Curated by Hazel Stone.
  6. ‘Biosystem V’ at What is Life? Wexford County Council and Trinity College Dublin, 2018. Curated by Prof Cliona O’Farrelly, TCD.
  7. ‘Biosystem IV’ (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018. Curated by Claire Ryan.
  8. ‘Biosystem IV’ at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018. Curated by Claire Ryan.
  9. ‘Biosystem IV’ (detail) at Sustainable Futures, Sirius Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland. 2018. Curated by Claire Ryan.
  10. ‘Biosystem II’ at Dublin Biennial, Dublin, Ireland. 2014. Curated by Maggie Magee. Photo credit: David Orr. 
  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.
Listen to a feature on the work record by Luke Clancy and broadcast on RTÉ Lyric FM, 2018