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 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.

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.

Image credit: Courtesy of the artist