Paul O’Kane highlights and exploits a fusion of current and failed or fading image technologies. He celebrates images which, upon being made seem to discover that, though they have arrived their time perhaps has not.

"My work is not loyal to a particular medium and purposefully blurs its relation to 'the contemporary'." Working in film, photography and writing he explores time’s impact on the value of the image to maintain questions about changing evaluations of the ‘quality’ of images.

"I have a persistent interest in recording the historicizing impact on human experience both of images and the city."

While uncomfortable pursuing prescribed rewards or expectations he is nevertheless fascinated by a tension between the semi-conscious production of images and the self-conscious psychology of the 21st century artist.

"The most rewarding way to progress is by looking back. My work now mines a personal archive of latent works and images prepared over 30 years."

"For me, the key to personal fulfillment is not necessarily a futural aspiration or achievement, it is just as likely to have been mislaid somewhere in the past."

To philosophically underpin his practices Paul O’Kane recently completed a PhD at University of London titled ‘A Hesitation Of Things’.

He live and works in London where he also teaches at Chelsea, Goldsmiths, SOAS, Central St Martins and Camberwell colleges.

May 2010

email: pok(at)okpaul.com (replace (at) with @)