Mind-Matter

Dominic Thorpe was one of a number of artists invited to meet with people who suffer from the chronic physical pain disorder called neuropathic pain, and in response create art work that visualises pain. The project investigated the potential for artwork to assist in describing and diagnosing Neuropathic pain. Dominic met with Vincent Connelly over a number of months where they discussed Vincent's pain and potential artwork. Vincent had given up painkillers because he said they eroded his quality of life. Instead he dealt with his pain by meditating at the Curragh in County Kildare. Early on Dominic realised he couldn't fully comprehend the physical pain Vincent described so visually and emotionally. He also felt that focusing on 'pain' was completely inadequate: he saw pain as a personal experience so he focused on the person. As a consequence the art work produced is based on a personal experience of pain 

Vincent's experience, and is also about him, his strength, his spirit and Dominic's experience of him. The final performance artwork comes from a series of action, text, image and object based works.

'Vincent Connelly died on the 11th of July 2009, I am all the better for having spent time with him.' Dominic Thorpe

Dominic Thorpe graduated with an MA from the National College of Art and Design Dublin in 2006 where he researched the high levels of suicide among young people in Ireland and worked with families and friends of people who took their own lives. His work is grounded in simple actions, often the act of listening. His interest lies in pushing through collective experience to find and acknowledge the personal.

He works in various media: performance, audio/visual, photography and drawing. He has shown work nationally and internationally including a video work shown at the world social forum in Brazil, 2009. He has worked collaboratively in a number of contexts in Dublin including projects with the Irish Youth Justice Services and the Finglas Suicide Network. In 2007 he completed research/artwork through the National College of Art and Design to develop greater understanding of the chronic pain disorder, neuropathic pain. In 2009, as a member of the Public Communications Group, he completed a major public art commission for the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and is currently artist-in-residence with the Wicklow County Council.

To date he has received bursaries from the Art Council of Ireland and the Kildare County Council, as well as travel and training awards from the Arts Council, and a research grant for CREATE.

Engaged directly with an individual suffering from the chronic pain disorder, neuropathic pain.