OBSIDIAN is a large-scale, site-specific installation by Aoife Dunne, produced by DAS Belfast and presented within the historic Riddel’s Warehouse. The work is the result of an partnership open call between Digital Arts Studios Belfast (DAS) and Beta Festival for an immersive residency. OBSIDIAN explores transformation as a state of continual flux, moving between mental and physical spaces, perception and reality, the human and the digital.
Drawing on the metamorphic qualities of volcanic glass, OBSIDIAN functions as a metaphor for psychological and emotional evolution. Through sound, sculpture, video, and performance, Dunne constructs an immersive environment that examines the tension between the body and technology, and the persistent drive to transcend constraint.
The installation transforms the architecture into a network of portals and shifting viewpoints, an active field of perception where collapse and renewal coexist. By navigating these fragmented and reassembled realities, viewers encounter transformation not as a fixed outcome but as an ongoing process of becoming, reflecting how digital mediation continues to reshape our understanding of self and space.
The exhibition will be open at the historic Riddel's Warehouse from Monday 3.11 - Saturday 8.11, 5-9PM.
Artist Talk: Wednesday 5.11, 5-6PM.
Official Launch (Late Night Art): Thursday 6.11, 6-9PM
Aoife Dunne is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the dynamic intersection of physical and virtual spaces. Known for her immersive installations that combine sculpture, video, sound, performance, costume, and technology, her work delves into concepts of identity, intimacy, and the nature of reality, examining the profound impact of technology on perception and place. Drawing inspiration from digital culture, fantasy, surrealism, and social critique, Dunne constructs vibrant, multi-sensory environments that challenge conventional notions of reality and self. Her practice pushes the boundaries between the material and immaterial, offering transformative experiences that redefine the relationship between technology, art, and embodiment.
DAS is a not-for-profit, charity operating a shared studio space in Belfast City Centre. DAS promotes the convergence of art and technology and provides invaluable access to the resources essential to the production of and engagement with digital arts. DAS is for artists and creatives to work, learn and advance their careers. We were born out of a desire to support and encourage visual artists whose innovative work merged with digital technologies.
Image credit: Courtesy of the artist
