Mary O'Neill - Creativity - Practice-Based Research

My research is interdisciplinary and focuses on contemporary artworks as a means of discussing significant cultural issues. From an original interest in ephemeral art and notions of mortality and immortality, her research has developed to explore intangible culture, in particular the lost skills that are embodied in museum objects. O’Neill has published both academic texts and short fiction on a diverse range of subject including ephemeral contemporary art, boredom, loss, isolation, art education, finding meaning and contemporary art and ethics. Discussing her current project, ‘Re-creative Practice: Learning from the Past’, she states “Museums are more than a collection of beautiful objects; they are repositories of knowledge. This knowledge informs us about the past but it also has the potential to inform the future. Re-creative practice is common in many disciplines, from archaeology to forensic science but its potential to inform artists and designers has been under explored. While there are numerous heritage centres that provide a ‘taste’ of what traditional crafts were like and re-enactment groups, re-creative practice is a deep engagement with historical objects that draws on the past to extract knowledge for the present and the future.” Her most recent project – The Museum of Leathercraft – Ordinary Objects: Extraordinary Stories is a short documentary produced in collaboration with film maker Nik Trzcinowicz. This film can be seen here Ordinary Stories; Extraordinary Objects