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Artist Statement
John O’Donnell



The art I make reflects my inquisitive, but skeptical, view of the world as I negotiate the mundane and existential obligations of life. I use compositions that are clumsy, humorous, and at times satisfyingly stupid. The ridiculous tendencies of my work ask us to encounter our own awkwardness in a way that brings intention and purpose in to question.

I create my work through play, salvaging, collecting and organizing objects and images then animating them to create a visual dialogue that marries childish toiling and spontaneous invention. This process yields weird glitches intended to misdirect the viewers understanding, resulting in irony and non-sequiturs. These disparate moments reveal new connections and meaning within prescribed social and cultural narratives.

The relaxed and casual nature of my work is important; it elects a subtle awareness and acceptance of our ungainly tendencies. I want my work to comfort us as we accept the fact that all humans struggle to make sense of our surroundings. I hope my work reminds viewers of childhood when illogical narratives and farfetched conclusions were used to explain the unknown.