Coney Island Dodgems

Owen Boss, ANU Productions

Owen Boss, ANU’s co-artistic director will dive into a research phase for new artwork Coney Island Dodgems. Owen will meet individuals as he hosts a series of conversations focusing on the sound system and dance floor as a delivery vehicle of culture and alternative political ideology.

The erosion of our venues and cultural spaces due to multiple hotel developments combined with two years social distancing has resulted in an understanding of the importance of our lost communal spaces and their contribution to not only the joy of being together but also as a space of alternative thinking and political views.

This research event will act as a conduit for conversation and passion around music and the dancefloor as a culturally charged political space.

Owen will kick off his research with a conversation with project collaborators Toby Hatchett (sound system maker) and Simon Cullen (sound artist, musician and sound technician).

The artist will publish a daily output during this R&D phase.

Credits:
Visual Artist and Co-Artistic Director: Owen Boss
Co-artistic Director: Louise Lowe
Producer: Lynnette Moran and Matthew Smyth
Key collaborators: Simon Cullen and Toby Hatchett

Bio:
Established in April 2009, ANU is led by theatre-maker Louise Lowe, Visual Artist Owen Boss, Co-exec Producers Lynnette Moran & Matthew Smyth. Together they have created 43 seminal works, public art commissions, gallery installations and museum interpretations; creating a new brand & reputation that has gained worldwide recognition. Heralded by the Irish Times as creating the “most searing and provocative art works of the past decade”. In 2021 they created several large scale & ambitious works including ‘The Book of Names’ co-production with Landmark Productions and support by Dublin Port Company; ‘The Secret Space’ presented at Project Arts Centre and filmed ‘Hecatomb’ commissioned by The Gate Theatre.