John O’Shea

John develops new and experimental approaches to art-making through his work with people, technology and social structures.

He worked closely with Alan Dunn to establish our inaugural research project “Canal & – suggestions for a future canal” during 2008 and he is largely to blame for our purchase of “Grace” the swan pedalo. In 2011 John and worked with Dave Lynch to establish Swan Pedalo Broadcasts – creating a floating pirate radio station on the swan.

Beyond his work with Re-Dock, John has an avid interest in the contradictory relations between humans and other animals.  In 2008 he founded The Meat Licence Proposal and continuing in this vein he has invented a new culinary dish – Black Market Pudding – using blood from a living pigs.  During 2011/12 his Pigs Bladder Football project sees him in residence at the Clinical Engineering department of the University of Liverpool – attempting to “grow” a football from living animal cells.

In 2010 John completed an AHRC Research Project at Newcastle University’s Culture Lab where he learnt some new tricks involving coding, electronics and interactive art.
Associated Projects:

Open Source Swan Pedalo
Swan Pedalo Broadcasts
Syntax
Constellation of Signs
A Small Cinema in Kirkby
A Small Cinema on Bold Street
Balloonascope
Canal &