Gaynor O'Flynn

London based Gaynor O'Flynn works across disciplines: using performance, voice, song, music, drama, movement, film, text, image, technology & light to create her work.

O'Flynn started in 16mm film, her work included Channel 4’s The Tube, Tony Wilson's The Other Side Of Midnight, Extreme Africa, a major arts series for C4 & A.P.B. which still holds the highest ratings for any C4 arts show.

From her first exhibition in 1990, Freedom, a collaboration with unemployed Liverpudlians in The Tate, Liverpool, O'Flynn pioneered work at the intersection of art, technology and philosophy.

The BBC called her, ‘That Conscious, Cathartic Voice’, Artrocker, ‘Bloody Brilliant' & Le Cool London 'Hugely Enlightening'. In response to a major public art commission on a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kathmandu, Frieze wrote, “Gaynor O'Flynn transmuted the sound into an exhilarating show – a memory that will stay with us for a long time".

Her music compositions have featured on TV & film including Argo, Oscar Best Picture 2013. She currently holds the record for the most gigs performed at one Glastonbury, 22 in 2007.

O'Flynn's accolades include a BFI Award for her first independent drama, Girl in 1991. A Women in Music Award in 2004, The Arts Council mentored her in 2005 & in 2012 was selected as a Cultural Leader for the Cultural Olympiad, London.

In her career O'Flynn has worked with an eclectic selection of artists including, Anton Corbijn, Alan Bleasdale, Harry Enfield, Stomp, Terry Gilliam, Clive James, Bjork, The Verve, La La La Human Steps, David Nash, John Parrish, New Order, P.J. Harvey, Eddie Izzard, Germain Greer, Richard Long, Martin Creed & The Dalai Lama.

Performing, screening & exhibiting globally, with organisations including UNESCO, The British Film Institute, The British Council, Mexico Design Week, Istanbul Performance Festival & Google, her work has featured on media including, BBC, ITV, Sky, NBC, Channel 4 & Nat Geo.

O'Flynn campaigns for cultural, humanitarian & environmental issues & has spoken to millions globally.

In the '90's she devised an online strategy for Tibet with a global event gathering 5M hits in one weekend, worked for The Dalai Lama & founded being a humanitarian & environmental art initiative.

being evolved into beinghuman, a company dedicated to interdisciplinary practice. One of the first projects was a film & interactive work in the remote Himalayan valley of Spitti in 2000. The project incorporated the highest internet broadcast ever at the time.

She also founded the beinghuman collective, t.b.c. – a not for profit company of award-winning performers, musicians, creatives, technologists, dancers & filmmakers who, under O'Flynn's artistic direction, create interdisciplinary work.

the beinghuman collective also runs residencies, events & is currently restoring a 6,000 sq ft warehouse in East London.

O'Flynn has curated & led interdisciplinary artist residencies, events & exhibitions with over 1,000 artists from countries including Mongolia, Siberia, Spain, Iceland, Mexico, Russia & Spain.

She founded & for over 10 years has campaigned for, Fair Trade For Artists

In 2015 O'Flynn launched Artists For Nepal in response to the earthquake, at Venice Biennale in association with Venice Agendas.

O'Flynn is a student of Dzogchen, a Himalayan philosophy she embeds in her life, work & art.

Credits

Training