Kira O’Reilly: Untitled (Bodies), Helsinki book launch

The works of interdisciplinary artist Kira O’Reilly use the uncertain boundaries of bodies as the starting point for their enquiry. Specifically, O’Reilly asks what kind of societies become possible in collaborations across species, organisms and bodies, and she explores these questions through sustained and experimental engagements with politics, biopolitics, change (social, corporeal, chemical, reactive) and the complex relations between the human and the non-human.

Kira O’Reilly: Untitled (Bodies), edited by Harriet Curtis and Martin Hargreaves, is the first book to offer an in-depth engagement with her many works across diverse formats. Bringing together writings by major artists and thinkers, such as Marina Abramovic, Shannon Bell and Tracey Warr, alongside extensive documentation of the artist’s work from two decades of practice, the contributions engage with such topics as ideas of performance, feminist political aesthetics, biotechnical practices, image-making and the intersections of humans and animals. The book also includes interviews, archive material and O’Reilly’s own writings.

This event will mark the publication of Kira O’Reilly: Untitled (Bodies).

At the book launch, Harriet Curtis’ introduction to the book will be followed by a roundtable discussion between Kira O’Reilly and invited participants Melisa Grant, Essi Kausalainen and Mari Keski-Korsu. They will explore and expand on some of the threads and themes of Kira’s works whilst referring to their own transdisciplinary practices.

This event is hosted by Bioart Society, and is part of Encounters Across Art and Science.

About the Publication

The editors: Harriet Curtis is a teaching fellow in performance studies and liberal arts at King’s College London. Martin Hargreaves is a writer, dramaturg and performer.

Co-published by the Live Art Development Agency and Intellect Books, as part of the Intellect Live book series.

The publication is supported by King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London, CAPP (Collaborative Arts Partnership Programme; an innovative four year collaborative arts programme co funded by the European Union), the Live Art Development Agency and Arts Council England. 

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