Joe O’Brien

I am an artist working with photography, video and prose attempting to make sense of our world. The absurd arises from the difficulty of finding meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.

The meaning which I photographically search for exists through human connections. The images of singular figures are self reflective of my solitude. They embody the lack of connection which my heart yearns for. At times I am content to be alone with my thoughts, conveyed visually through people walking across a street or perhaps taking a break from work. My affinity for light, quietness and reclusion is expressed through the innate beauty of solitary spaces. This solitude gives myself time to think and truly appreciate the beauty life holds, even when it pushes against me. My heart throbs towards twilight when I see shadows casted from trees under a lilac sunset. The beauty in life reminds me that happiness is in reach even amid sorrows and when life seems to make no sense. The photographs of couples strengthen the longing for human connections when feeling lonely. Now more than ever do these intimate moments show the importance of human connection.

My personal struggles of loneliness are expressed through both written work and the spoken components of the videos. The verge between land and water becomes important spaces in exploring our contemplative nature. This is particularly valuable for the meditative spoken word videos expressing loneliness. Loneliness can be piercingly painful at times, but the greatest way to overcome it is through compassion.