Molly Erin McCarthy

Molly Erin McCarthy was born in Plymouth, England in 1995. She is currently studying her Bachelors in Fine Art at Plymouth College of Art, where she is in the process of writing her practice lead thesis on post-digital materiality.

Presently, her research is focused on the evolving relationship between technology and the human experience, and how our increased time spent in virtual space is changing how we exist in the physical world. Transhumanism, failed utopias, and nostalgia are other common themes present in McCarthy’s practice.

McCarthy is currently in residence for Digital Artist Residency, as part of the Wretched of the Screen Pavilion for the Wrong Biennale. Her project "wish u were here" includes the ongoing production of a sci-fi narrative portraying failed consciousness uploading through the perspective of a recovered neural implant. Alongside this speculative fiction, McCarthy is creating digital environments and visual content centered around the transition of handmade models into virtual space via 3D scanning technology. Through this process she hopes to bring to light the invisible, liminal space between the “IRL” and virtual world, as well as exploring the material potential of cyberspace.

Some of McCarthy’s most recent exhibitions include “NOTOPIA” at Leadworks, Plymouth, UK, a group show organised by her collective dOgMiLk, “goingaway.tv” Arebyte/AOS, London, UK, and “STREAM” Wharf Chambers, Leeds, UK. Her video work has also been shown at events such as “Warehouse Part #2” at The Auxiliary, Middlesbrough, UK.

McCarthy is the recipient of the David Heale Award 2017, and currently works as a freelance gallery technician.

Western approach to paradise

Reading Material (tbc)

Growing up in a small military town in the early 00’s has given me a fascination with technology and it’s embedded power hierarchies. as our world moves further and further into virtual space, and as corporations become the ruling class in this new cyber-frontier, questioning existing structures and systems is a necessity, especially when they mostly go unseen.

Other areas of research include searching for new modes of materiality in a post-digital/post-internet world, and examining how increased time spent online is changing how we experience and interact with physical space. Heterotopia and hierarchies are also common themes, whether related to tech, reality, of just the built environment.

cyberspace oaisis 1

wish u were here (detail)

Alongside this, I’m currently exploring the thought of the new millennium as a failed utopia, reflecting upon the early 2000’s as a time of optimism - especially related to technology - and also a formative era for myself. I’m interested in what feels like a contemporary renewal of these attitudes, albeit through a less rose-tinted lens.

we can rerender that 4 u wholesale

Weird worlds and objects is the perfect way to describe my work. through experimentation with virtual and “irl” processes, and the creation of environments and artifacts, I play with post-digital materiality and examine how our evolving relationship with tech is changing the human experience.

My practice is lead by process, and I will be letting my research guide the work I make.

Previous mediums I have worked in are sculpture (small & large scale), video, installation and net art. I have utilised a wide range of softwares, platforms and materials.

hyper_link

cyberspace oaisis 2

X[ed] ova 2

FOREIGN OBJEKT

FOREIGN OBJEKT