Aisling O'Beirn

Aisling O’Beirn received a BA in Fine Art (Sculpture) from the University of Ulster – where she now lectures – in 1990, followed by a PhD in 2005 and PGCHEP in 2011. Her interdisciplinary practice explores the relationship between art and science across a variety of media, from installation and drawing to animation and sculpture in both gallery and site-specific locations.

Aisling’s work explores space as a physical structure and political entity by making and animating forms relating to observed and theoretical structures being studied by contemporary astronomers and physicists. It often involves dialogues with scientists, and much of her recent research has been facilitated by Armagh Observatory, Dunsink Observatory, and The Centre for Astronomy NUIG, Galway. Her practice employs artistic means to communicate, learn and discuss scientific phenomena. Current work explores Dark Sky Advocacy and light pollution, both in terms of its impact on our view of the night sky and the wide-ranging impacts on communities and eco-systems. The night sky near her home in Belfast scores 8/9 on the Bortle Scale (‘city / inner-city sky’), so she is currently making monthly drawings from a star almanac and word drawings from a glossary of light pollution terminology towards a film work that will mark the first part of a series of campaigning works about light pollution.

Aisling O’Beirn applied for a Golden Fleece Award to buy the time needed to visit dark sky sites and communities, speak to experts on light pollution, invest in equipment that would allow her to view and photograph the night sky, and to collaborate with an electronic musician / astro-photographer on a new body of work.