Méadhbh O'Connor was selected by a distinguished international jury as one of fifteen artists to represent Antarctica at the experimental and environmentally-conscious, supranational Antarctic Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale of Art, 2017. This jury included Alexander Ponomarev, Hans-Ulrich Obrist, Hani Rashid, Sheikha Hoor al-Qasimi and Nadim Samman.

Climate Simulator Phase I is a short film that involves creating models of the Earth’s atmosphere in a small tank of water and photographing the results. The resulting images bear striking resemblances to the atmospheric phenomena seen at a macro scale on Earth, and are created with nothing more than water, salt, a colloid (milk), a plain white light and a camera. No coloured studio lighting and minimal-to-zero digital post production is used to create the imagery. The technique mixes a simple scientific experiment which demonstrates 'rayleigh scattering' (why the sky is blue on Earth and red in the evenings) with techniques used historically in cinema to create artificial cloud scenes in water.

The second video Climate Simulator Phase II, documents the artist’s purpose-built, recreation of a device used by mathematicians to examine flow patterns and turbulence. This is part of an ongoing project investigating planetary atmospheric circulation leading to Phase III of her project which will be to build the device in a sphere.

In the midst of Méadhbh’s time in UCD, a new major building for the College of Science was under construction and many transitions were taking place. She salvaged old scientific equipment that was due to be thrown out from the old laboratories as they prepared to move into the new building. Combining these artefacts with new pieces, she built the sculpture and presented it in the new Science Centre in order to anticipate the many future stories and discoveries that will unfold there, building on the university’s history. The sculpture was built with the input of many of the staff and students here who collected and donated parts and assisted in its construction. The piece marked the first major exhibition for the UCD Art in Science programme which is now a long-term project by the UCD College of Science.

Méadhbh O’Connor, born 1984, is an Irish artist who works at the conjunction of art, science and environmentalism. Over the years she has steadily formed a consistent art practice in which she works closely with scientists and experts in other fields, particularly those with whom she shares concern for environmental topics. Many of her projects alternate between carefully constructed and engineered sculptural installation, and ephemeral work that is less controllable and predictable.

Méadhbh also developed and delivered an elective undergraduate module at the UCD College of Science between 2015 and 2018, before she  moved to Oxford University to study a Masters in Fine Art. Her module prepared young scientists to think socially and critically about their discipline, and introduce them to the growing international movement which sees increasing collaboration between the Creative Arts and Sciences at an experimental, educational and institutional level.