Laura O'Keeffe
Skin Without a Body
Skin Without a Body is a holistic exploration of the experience of skin conditions, which examines not only the physical impact of skin conditions, but also their psychological, emotional and social impact. Through exploring the artist’s personal experience of psoriasis, in this work Laura O’Keeffe openly presents a part of oneself which is commonly perceived as a flaw, or which one often hides from others, as the private self.
Skin Without a Body reflects the relationship between psoriasis and stress, illness, social stigma, social and gender conditioning, body image, self-esteem, and presentations of the self. This work also reflects the overwhelming impact of the constantly changing, unpredictable nature of skin conditions, along with the role of lens-based media in perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, such as through the common practice of editing skin.
In this digital moving image and sound work, the artist physically cuts psoriasis from printed photographs of her skin, thus, physically editing images of her own skin. This psychologically conflicting act embodies a sense of reclaiming autonomy and control over the imagery which represents one’s self, while also simultaneously conforming to social conditioning in relation to beauty standards and presentations of the self.
Artist Statement
Laura O'Keeffe is an artist who works with the media of photography, film, video, moving image, sound, installation and photobooks. She often explores combining elements of both fine art and commercial lens-based processes in her work. O'Keeffe, predominantly, works with portraiture and digital processes, to explore themes such as emotion, appreciation of the everyday, social conditioning, gender, the everyday working methods, practices and processes of lens-based artists, presentations of the self, and personal subject matter. She often actively uses the subject matter of her work to gain a deeper personal understanding of the lens-based media and working processes which she works with in her artistic practice. Thus, working practices commonly become the subject of her work.
Biography
Instagram: @laura.o.keeffe
Laura O'Keeffe is an Irish artist, who is currently studying Photography and Moving Image, BA (Honours), in the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD), Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS).
She, predominantly, works with digital photographic and moving image processes, with a particular focus on lens-based portraiture. Her work often features both fine art and commercial lens-based techniques and processes.
Previous Exhibitions
March - April, 2024 - Photography and Moving Image and Print Contemporary Practice, Artists' Books Exhibition, Clare Street Campus, Limerick School of Art and Design, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Limerick, Ireland, Group Exhibition
December, 2023 - Dublin Art Book Fair 2023: Polyphonic, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin, Ireland, Group Exhibition
April, 2023 - A Furtherance of Their Own Desires, Sailor’s Home, Limerick, Ireland, Curated by Sara Dowling, Group Exhibition
October, 2022 - Sculpting in Time, Clare Street Campus, Limerick School of Art and Design, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Limerick, Ireland, Group Exhibition
March, 2022 - Still Moving, Clare Street Campus, Limerick School of Art and Design, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Limerick, Ireland, Group Exhibition
March, 2022 - Still Moving, George’s Quay Campus, Limerick School of Art and Design, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Limerick, Ireland, Group Exhibition
November, 2021 - A Series of Extraordinary Events, Clare Street Campus, Limerick School of Art and Design, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Limerick, Ireland, Group Exhibition
March, 2017 - Mental Health Ireland Art and Photography Competition: Mind Your Mental Health, Dublin City Council, South East Area Office, Wood Quay, Dublin, Ireland, Group Exhibition