Martin's work considers existence with a severe chronic illness within our contemporary situation. Martin suffers from cystic fibrosis and his practice uses physical endurance, hardship and pain based practices to challenge common representations of illness and examine what it means to be born with a life threatening disease. His work is an act of resistance to illness, an attempt at claiming agency and a celebration of his body. Martin loves his body and his work is a form of sufferance in order to survive.
Martin O’Brien works across performance, writing and video art. His work uses physical endurance, long durations, and pain-based practices to examine what it means to be born with a life-shortening disease. He has shown work throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada. This included Tate Britain, Spill Festival of Performance (both London), Kapelica Gallery (Ljubljana), Performatorium Festival of Queer Performance (Regina), Venice Week of Performance Art, In Between Time Festival of Contemporary Performance (Bristol), Grace Exhibition Space, Abrons Art Centre (both New York) and as artist in residence at ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives (Los Angeles). Martin has cystic fibrosis and all of his work and writing draws upon this experience. He is currently lecturer in Performance at Queen Mary University of London. He recently surpassed his life expectancy and is enjoying life as a zombie. Survival of the Sickest, the first book about Martin's work was published in 2018 by the Live Art Development Agency.
Martin O’Brien works across performance, writing and video art. His work uses physical endurance, long durations, and pain-based practices to examine what it means to be born with a life-shortening disease. He has shown work throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada. This included Tate Britain, Spill Festival of Performance (both London), Kapelica Gallery (Ljubljana), Performatorium Festival of Queer Performance (Regina), Venice Week of Performance Art, In Between Time Festival of Contemporary Performance (Bristol), Grace Exhibition Space, Abrons Art Centre (both New York) and as artist in residence at ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives (Los Angeles). Martin has cystic fibrosis and all of his work and writing draws upon this experience. He is currently lecturer in Performance at Queen Mary University of London. He recently surpassed his life expectancy and is enjoying life as a zombie. Survival of the Sickest, the first book about Martin's work was published in 2018 by the Live Art Development Agency.
Thank You Ma'am, Please May I Have Another.
Performed Access All Areas, London (2011).
© Manuel Vason