Sample-Studios Logo
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • A

Elinor O’ Donovan

elinor.odonovan@hotmail.com /elinorodonovan /YouTube
elinor.odonovan@hotmail.com /elinorodonovan /YouTube
About the member

Elinor O’Donovan (b. 1995) is a digital media artist currently living and working in her home city of Cork. A self-professed “meme expert”, her work is typified by colourful digital collages and paintings, drawing inspiration from internet culture, cartoons, and video games.
In her work, she investigates methods of translating digital culture into the physical gallery space, playing with tropes of internet humour and meme image creation. She works from a pirated version of Photoshop on her ancient laptop, and often brings her work from this space into the gallery space in the form of large-format prints.
She studied Intermedia Art at Edinburgh College of Art, mentored by artists Monster Chetwynd, Keith Farquhar, and Susan Mowatt, graduating in 2019 with first class honours. While at university, she exhibited work in locations throughout Scotland. She has been awarded a residency with Sample Studios and expects to hold her first solo exhibition in Cork in 2021

Education

Intermedia Art, Edinburgh College of Art, 2019

Exhibtions

‘Brain worms’ 2021

Residency

Sample-Studios Residency

Elinor
O' Donovan

Using digital media techniques, Elinor investigates aspects of internet culture such as meme humour, online subcultures, and stock photo aesthetics. She works largely with Photoshop, creating colourful digital collages and paintings.
Elinor’s collages draw from the logic (or lack thereof) in Google Images search results. For example, when one searches Google for an image, the search engine algorithm gives privilege to some images over others, endowing top search results with a hegemony of meaning. In other words; a stock image of an egg that Elinor downloads is just one variation of what an egg may look like, but it is given authority in saying “this is what an egg is” by being higher up in the search results on Google. The Google search engine algorithm is manmade, so with her work, Elinor wants us all to remember that the internet does shape reality, and the way we understand the world around us.
Her collages, then, depicts a semi-fictional version of the reality that is constructed by the internet. By stealing and remixing stock photos, or images from Google search results, Elinor takes tiny pieces of everyday life distorted by the lens of the internet and turns them into playful works of semi-fiction.

Elinor’s work is concerned with the translation of digital images into physical space. How does one retain a sense of digital-ness when dragging flat pixels into a lumpy world? Having grown up alongside the internet, Elinor argues that internet culture is everyday life and online spaces are just as ‘real’ as physical ones. It’s crucial to her that her work retains a sense of digital-ness, even to viewers who might not initially be familiar with the internet culture from which she draws.

Elinor O’ Donovan
Elinor O’ Donovan

Sample-Studios CLG is a non-profit organisation, incorporated as a company, limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.
Sample-Studios Ltd. is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Cork City Council, the Cork Arts Fund at The Community Foundation of Ireland and Gurranabraher Credit Union.

theartscouncil Cork City Council Creative Ireland
  • Exhibitions
  • Events
  • Education & Outreach
  • Facilities
  • Residencies
  • Sample-Studios Members
  • The Address Arts Experience
  • Company No: 495880
  • Registered Charity Number: 20205874
We made this!
  • Sample-Studios
  • Members
  • Membership Options
  • Exhibitions
  • Events
  • Education & Outreach
    • The Address Arts Experience
  • Residencies
  • Studio Facilities
  • About
  • Support
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT