after

Kenna’s current work on climate breakdown, focuses on the oil industry and considers what is hidden there with all of its devastating consequences for the planet. Her research has shown that oil, especially crude oil, disappeared from visual culture during the past seventy years.

This has resulted in a deep disconnection between the sources of production of oil and its consumption and may be seen as a gross manipulation by oil corporations, who keep a petrochemical lifestyle before us, depicting it as progress, efficiency and comfort. A quick review of the websites of the top ten oil corporations tells the story as they would like it to be seen. As a consequence, the real impacts of continuing to burn fossil fuels are hidden, sabotaging our capacity to respond with clarity and urgency. Kenna believes that it is time to challenge this and look clearly at the hard questions around oil and other hazardous substances that threaten the livability of the planet for humans, animals and plants.This may require the development of new concepts of resilience, so that citizens can feel safe with exploring such issues. She is interested in developing an intergenerational response to this. In her most recent project she has invited the audience to view a table through a lightly constructed steel segmented pipeline. On the table, covered in decommissioned fire hoses with carbonised bread and oil-wipe serviettes, Kenna invites the audience to enter the troubling world of oil through a sculptural language that opens new ways to imagine the consequences of continuing to burn fossil fuels. This brings those companies and systems responsible into clear view and while evoking a devastating prospect for coming generations, she offers an unusual sound of hope. She connected this to a later conversation held as part of the Events Programme linked to the Graduate Art Show, NCAD, 2023. See NCAD Works, 2023.