I am Martina O'Connor, a visual artist and writer based in the West of Ireland. My work spans multiple mediums, from eclectic ink on paper to observational paintings, installations, video, the written word, and ambitious monumental works. I bring high intensity and conceptual strength to everything I create. By not limiting myself to any single style, I can explore a diverse range of subject matters and challenge the viewer to engage with critical issues, encouraging them to look beyond the surface of what is presented to them. My art focuses on the exploration of emotions and storytelling, engaging directly with my medium and responding to the paint before me. I strip away layers, using bold colours and dynamic marks to explore light and form. My recent body of work, titled "Petrichor," addresses themes of loss and transformation, featuring emotional faces evolving into landscapes that symbolise renewal inspired by the scent of rain on dry earth. My work reflects the 'beauty' and 'brutality' of human life, creating unconventional narratives and offering fresh perspectives. This open conversation between myself and my work, which I define as 'brutal beauties,' enables me to generate unease or discomfort, often featuring distorted and abstracted figures. Ultimately, my art speaks to the viewer intellectually and emotionally, inviting them to engage with important issues and reflect on the beauty and complexity of our shared and unshared human experience.
