Laura O’Connor

Ever shall we hold you

Ever shall we hold you is a 3-channel video work. Each screen shows a different angle of the same action. The performed action is a woman widening her mouth with a vaginal speculum. As the mouth widens a bunch of shamrocks fall out to a soundtrack of the song ‘Ireland, Mother Ireland’ performed by John McCormack in 1930. These iconic symbols of Irishness aim to contradict the brutal scene of the speculum stretching the mouth. These contradictions of national pride and brutality are all too common in our society and the wider world where the body of the individual means less than “cultural” agenda.

About the Artist

Artist Website

Dr Laura O’Connor is a visual artist and lecturer based in Belfast. O’Connor’s work combines performance, sculpture, installation, video and digital media to look at the representation of “women” in the media and through cultural narratives. Recent works include Cultural Methods an ongoing project researching the digital surveillance of fertility and its links to cultural narratives and the treatment of reproductive autonomy in Ireland; Uncomfortable State (2017-2019) a series of live performances, sculptural works and video installations based around abortion rights in Ireland.

Laura is also a member of Array Collective. Array won the Turner Prize in 2021. Exhibitions include An Dùn at IMMA Dublin in 2023-2024, The Druthaib’s Ball, Ulster Museum (2023), Galway Arts Centre (2022), Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry (2021); Jerwood Collaborate!,Jerwood Arts, London, (2019). O’Connor is also co-director of WANDA:Feminism and Moving Image, an organisation that exhibits moving image works by and about women and under-represented voices working alongside industry organisations and individuals to expose inequality in the film industry.