Michael Fortune
Participant in
4th edittion of Cologne Online Film Festival 2008
Michael Fortune is an Irish artist whose work spans the formats of writing, video and photography. Born in rural County Wexford in 1975, he holds a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Film. Working predominantly in video and photography, Fortunes’ work explores the circumstantial boundaries between of art and culture, folklore and interpretation and fact and fiction. Through a variety of techniques and approaches, Fortune uses the camera as a tool to decode and re-code everyday folklores and rituals, and by doing so exposes the areas where their boundaries over-lap and collide. Fortune’s practice revolves around the collection of material. His video works are not scripted or storyboarded, instead he generates material out of the relationships and experiences he develops with the people and circumstances he encounters.
Recent solo shows include Triskel (Cork), Wexford Arts Centre (Wexford) Galway Arts Centre (Galway) and SWGCG (Newfoundland). 2008 group shows include The Edinburgh Film Festival (Scotland), Visions in the Nunnery (London), The Lab (Dublin), VAD, (Spain), Live Art Falmouth (England), Transhift 08 (USA), Art Video Screenings (Sweden), Catalyst Arts (Belfast), Miden Video Arts Festival (Greece), Galway Film Fleadh (Galway) Dream Video Rats (Slovenia) and The Mirror Stage (Cyprus).
Most recently he produced and screened a new body of video work entitled Departures and Arrivals which was commissioned by Wexford County Council’s as part of their Per Cent for Art Programme. He has also presented work on national radio and television and has been the recipient of various awards and bursaries from The Arts Council, Leader, Ireland/Newfoundland Partnership and various local authorities. He is currently undertaking a new Per Cent for Art Commission for Mayo County Council and a new body of work supported by an Arts Council Projects Award.