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SITUATION
Preview: Friday 30 January, 6 – 8 pm,
continues 31 January – 28th February 2009

Pallas Contemporary Projects is pleased to present its first exhibition of 2009
– a new site-specific video installation by Irish artist Peter O'Kennedy.

O'Kennedy is a Dublin-based artist who's work mostly sets up combinations
of movement and chance, whether in video or kinetic installations, or
sometimes a hybrid of the two. Situation presents the viewer with an
unstable sense of the audience and the performer, both within the internal
structure of the work and in relation to the audiences' presence in the
work. It plays on a notion which is in flux, that of the audience member
as witnessing the piece; being part of the piece; and being the subject
of the piece.

In the spirit of absurd theatre, Situation continues O'Kennedy's grappling
with tensions resulting from struggle, striving and purposefulness in the
face of a seemingly absurd and random world. Situation takes the form of a
generic sitcom but erases all action, leaving only the set, the theatre seats
and a disembodied laugh track. In a departure from his previous works where
movement has been central to the piece, here presence and absence become
the fulcrum of the work, where the movement is largely realised by the
action of viewing by the situated attendee.

Peter O'Kennedy graduated with a Masters in Visual Arts Practice from IADT,
Dublin, in 2008. His most recent solo exhibition was Tracking Beacon NY 12508,
at 92, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, in 2008. He exhibited Lost Luggage,
a kinetic installation for Fringe Festival, Georges Dock, Dublin, Ireland,
2007 and Jonny Axelsson performing Akrodha, a performance and video screening
at The Baroque Chapel, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland, 2006.

This exhibition marks the beginning of a third year of programming at Pallas
Contemporary Projects. PCP was set up to foster artistic exchanges, and to
encourage artists to experiment and take risks with their practice, and to
support the production of new work. By allowing an extended period of time
on-site in which to test and try out ideas ahead of their public exhibition,
and due to the idiosyncratic specifics of our gallery space, this has resulted
in the production of many artworks and projects that would not have otherwise
been realised.

SITUATION - Peter O'Kennedy
Preview: Friday 30 January, 6 – 8 pm,
continues 31 January – 28th February 2009

Pallas Contemporary Projects
111 Grangegorman Road Lower, Dublin 7, Ireland
T: +353 1 635 9766
E: info [at] pallasprojects.org
Opening Hours: Thurs - Sat, 12 - 6 pm