Knee-Jerk art collective
Mission Statement
Galway-based art collective Knee-Jerk engaged in site-specific and ‘knee-jerk’ responses to the spaces they occupied, and their sense of place in the art world. Their collaborative practice initially focused on the city of Galway. Developing imaginative and tongue-in-cheek solutions to the lack of financial support and creative spaces in the city. Through a series of socially engaged events, the collective questioned what it meant to be an emerging artist in 2009, how do we survive and create art? Can we re-think how we live and work in the city? In response to the great recession the ‘Jerks’ were forced to improvise, make up and make do. Much of their work was about the act of working and playing with the public, dissolving the boundaries between the artist and the public and rejecting the prevailing individualist ideals of the art world. Creating and conceptualising collectively led to unexpected outcomes and revealed new possibilities for living in the city. Play became their modality to think, reason and problem-solve with the public.
History:
Knee-jerk met in 2005 while they were studying at Cluian Mhuire Art College, Galway, where the multi-disciplinary artists became close friends. The collective evolved naturally after they graduated in 2009, in response to the precarity of life as artists, coupled with the economic recession. Initially motivated by their shared journey, their knee-jerk responses to the situation functioned as a springboard for their creative practice. The collective held a succession of participatory events throughout Ireland and invited the public to play with them, resulting in playful and critical works that encouraged the participants to connect over their ambitions and through their imagination. Events include; Moonlighting, Pass the Giant Parcel, Make your own instrument (MYOI), Erasers, Build your own fort (BYOF).
For Moonlighting (2011), Live@8 on tour, the 'Jerks' performed their fantasy secondary jobs, providing services for the public to purchase with fake money. Hair was cut on the street, Tattoos were drawn on the audience's skin, breast implants were inserted, sandwiches were made out of suitcases and clothes were sewn on the spot. The piece commented on the necessity for artists to juggle multiple jobs to sustain their art practice
The evolving and revolving members created work together from 2009- 2011. Members include Gary Boyd, Mitch Conlan, Anne Marie Healy, Pearl Henagan, Kerry Law, Siobhan McGibbon, Brigid Mulligan, Roisin O'Brien, Roger O'Shea and Eimear Twomey.
Galway-based art collective Knee-Jerk engaged in site-specific and ‘knee-jerk’ responses to the spaces they occupied, and their sense of place in the art world. Their collaborative practice initially focused on the city of Galway. Developing imaginative and tongue-in-cheek solutions to the lack of financial support and creative spaces in the city. Through a series of socially engaged events, the collective questioned what it meant to be an emerging artist in 2009, how do we survive and create art? Can we re-think how we live and work in the city? In response to the great recession the ‘Jerks’ were forced to improvise, make up and make do. Much of their work was about the act of working and playing with the public, dissolving the boundaries between the artist and the public and rejecting the prevailing individualist ideals of the art world. Creating and conceptualising collectively led to unexpected outcomes and revealed new possibilities for living in the city. Play became their modality to think, reason and problem-solve with the public.
History:
Knee-jerk met in 2005 while they were studying at Cluian Mhuire Art College, Galway, where the multi-disciplinary artists became close friends. The collective evolved naturally after they graduated in 2009, in response to the precarity of life as artists, coupled with the economic recession. Initially motivated by their shared journey, their knee-jerk responses to the situation functioned as a springboard for their creative practice. The collective held a succession of participatory events throughout Ireland and invited the public to play with them, resulting in playful and critical works that encouraged the participants to connect over their ambitions and through their imagination. Events include; Moonlighting, Pass the Giant Parcel, Make your own instrument (MYOI), Erasers, Build your own fort (BYOF).
For Moonlighting (2011), Live@8 on tour, the 'Jerks' performed their fantasy secondary jobs, providing services for the public to purchase with fake money. Hair was cut on the street, Tattoos were drawn on the audience's skin, breast implants were inserted, sandwiches were made out of suitcases and clothes were sewn on the spot. The piece commented on the necessity for artists to juggle multiple jobs to sustain their art practice
The evolving and revolving members created work together from 2009- 2011. Members include Gary Boyd, Mitch Conlan, Anne Marie Healy, Pearl Henagan, Kerry Law, Siobhan McGibbon, Brigid Mulligan, Roisin O'Brien, Roger O'Shea and Eimear Twomey.
