Artist teams up with Irish groups to dream big at Cork's culture night

International artist Simon McKeown is set to dazzle audiences with his latest project which will be unveiled during a major free live art event.

Teesside University computing lecturer Simon is using his expertise in technology to create a projection spectacle with accompanying live score to bring riverside buildings to life.

Simon, a Reader in Post Production and Animation in the University's School of Computing, was commissioned as part of Cork Ignite, an international commission supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Arts & Disability Ireland and Cork City Council with partners National Sculpture Factory and Create Ireland.

Renowned for his work Motion Disabled, which challenges stereotypes around disability, Simon has seen his work go global in a single day when it was projected on to buildings in 17 countries all over the world.

He is currently working with the National Sculpture Factory and Create, along with Cork disability organisations Suisha Inclusive Arts at COPE Foundation and SoundOut to create of one of his renowned outdoor public artworks.

It will be one of Ireland’s largest outdoor cultural events when it takes place in September as one of three Ignite commissions, which represent the largest ever investment in Ireland’s arts and disability sector.

He said: 'My aim is to create, in collaboration, a hugely exciting body of work in Cork and for this work to be seen as a fundamental stepping stone in the perception and production of arts which focuses on or considers disability.'

Simon’s work is a reflection of his interest, knowledge and experience of disability and in particular society's view of 'normality' and 'difference'. He also draws on his own personal experience, having been born with osteogensis imperfecta, a condition causing extremely fragile bones.

Simon was named DaDaFest International Artist of the year in 2010. He regularly exhibits internationally with his work seen in America, Australia, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Norway, Germany and across the United Kingdom.

He has over 25 years of professional creative experience and was awarded his own prestigious Cultural Olympiad/London 2012 Festival commission, which represented a watershed moment for contemporary disability art.

Padraig Naughton, Executive Director, Arts and Disability Ireland said: 'Ignite represents the single largest investment in the arts and disability sector ever. It's a great opportunity to appreciate the innovative work done by individuals like Simon.'

---