BIOGRAPHY
Aoife van Linden Tol FRSA is an award winning artist working at the nexus of art, science and technology. Specialising in explosives she has fused her interests in nature, cosmology, chemistry, physics and psychology. Her multi-disciplinary practice spans sculpture, installation, drawing, photography, illustration, video, sound, performance, augmented reality, science and research. She creates abstract works which often examine concepts of time, density and matter as well as deep human emotions and motivations. She regularly collaborates with scientists and academics to create conceptually rigorous and socially engaging artworks and participatory projects.
Aoife graduated from Central St Martins in 2002, with a BA Hons in Art & Design. She exhibits internationally including at the ICA, the San Francisco MOMA, USA, NGBK Berlin and Ars Electronica Festival. Her work was exhibited alongside old masters William Blake and J.M.W. Turner, as well as contemporary heavyweights such as Douglas Gordon, Susan Hiller and Cornelia Parker in FIRE: Flashes to Ashes in British Art 1692-2019 at the RWA, Bristol. Aoife was Artist in residence at the European Space Agency in 2016/17. She presented a large-scale explosive performance, Realta, in Trinity Square for the Science Gallery Dublin 10th anniversary celebrations.
Aoife is Director of Feral, an events company focused on arts and outer space and Director of Kosmica Studio, delivering cosmic themed creative leadership programs for the space, tech and innovation sectors. As a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts she believes that art can and does change the world for the better. Aoife is Vice Chair for the IAF Committee For Culture in Space and a proud member of Women in Aerospace Europe. She regularly presents talks, workshops, lectures and seminars internationally including at SCI:COM, the International Space University and NASA. Her artwork Copper Cosmos is currently flying aboard the International Space Station.
Aoife graduated from Central St Martins in 2002, with a BA Hons in Art & Design. She exhibits internationally including at the ICA, the San Francisco MOMA, USA, NGBK Berlin and Ars Electronica Festival. Her work was exhibited alongside old masters William Blake and J.M.W. Turner, as well as contemporary heavyweights such as Douglas Gordon, Susan Hiller and Cornelia Parker in FIRE: Flashes to Ashes in British Art 1692-2019 at the RWA, Bristol. Aoife was Artist in residence at the European Space Agency in 2016/17. She presented a large-scale explosive performance, Realta, in Trinity Square for the Science Gallery Dublin 10th anniversary celebrations.
Aoife is Director of Feral, an events company focused on arts and outer space and Director of Kosmica Studio, delivering cosmic themed creative leadership programs for the space, tech and innovation sectors. As a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts she believes that art can and does change the world for the better. Aoife is Vice Chair for the IAF Committee For Culture in Space and a proud member of Women in Aerospace Europe. She regularly presents talks, workshops, lectures and seminars internationally including at SCI:COM, the International Space University and NASA. Her artwork Copper Cosmos is currently flying aboard the International Space Station.
LIFE
1978 Born in Co Cork, Ireland
1982 Family moved to London
2009-2011 Director and curator of Tank Gallery, London
2009-2016 Director of Artful Badger arts and theatre company
2016- Director of FERAL
2018- Vice Chair of The International Astronautical Federation Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space (ITACCUS)
EDUCATION
2023 Master of Science Space Studies, International Space University
2016 Theatrical Pyrotechnics Safety
2015 Pyrotechnic Chemistry
2005 Introduction to Curating, Central St Martins,
2005 Cosmology, City Literary College
1999–2002 BA Arts and Design, Central St Martin's College of Art and Design
2001 City & Guilds Explosives Foundation Course, International School for Safety and Explosive Education, UK
1998-1999 Art and design Foundation, Central St Martin's College of Art and Design
1995-1997 A-levels: Art, Chemistry, Mathematics
AWARDS/MEMBERSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Karman Fellow 2023
Fellow of the The Royal Society of Arts
Committees: Vice-Chair of The International Astronautical Federation Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space (ITACCUS)
Award: Develop Your Creative Practice Award from the Arts Council England
Award: Artist in Residence European Space Agency & Ars Electronica Futurelab 2016-2001
Award: International Development Award from the Arts Council England & The British Council
Award: Arts Council Award - Studio Practice
Award: Spirit of the Festival Award, VAULT Festival 2015
Member: Women in Aerospace Europe
Member: Association of Stage Pyrotechnicians
Member: British Association of Journalists
Member: Production Services Association
Member: a-n The Artists Information Company
Alum: International Space University
Alum: University of the Arts London
Scholarship: International School for Safety and Explosive Engineers full scholarship for Explosive Handling and Use
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 Copper Cosmos, International Space Station launch exhibition, Islington Square, London
2015 Scorched, The Vaults, London
2009 Blowing My Dreams, allgirls international art, Berlin
A Stitch In Time, Tank Gallery, London
Once Upon a Fraction of Time and Other Stories, Brandenburgischer Kunstverein, Potsdam
2008 Meta Works II, Artist studio, London
2006 Explosions on Paper, Cole St Gallery, Lubeck, Germany
2002 Meta Works, The Sun, London
One 12,875,00th of a Second, St Barnabas Church, London
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Moon Gallery, International Space Station, Low Earth Orbit
Moon Gallery Launch Exhibition, Amsterdam
Wild Alchemy Lab, Ssone, London
Spell Zone, Antenna Gallery, London
2021 Molecular Garden, The Future of Fragrance exhibition, Paco Rabanne, London
2020 Moonbounce, All Women Crew hosted by Leonardo OLATS
2019 FIRE: Flashes to Ashes in British Art 1692-2019, The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, United Kingdom
2018 THE BOMB, Exhibition, Sydney Festival, Sydney, Australia
2017 KOSMICA Film Night, Cine Tonalá, Roma Sur, Mexico City, Mexico
Art of Space, ESTEC, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands
ALMA 1854, The Alma, London
Lumen: School of Light, Ugly Duck, London
2016 Second Story Linz, Alchemists of Art and Science, Ars Electronica Centre, Linz, Austria
DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS, ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT, Lights of Soho, London
BB-8GR8 Disney Star Wars, Force for Change Charity Auction, London
Global Shine Foundation Charity Auction, London
2012 Art Licks Annual, ICA, London
2011 Carbon, Trinity, London
Adrift, Aoife van Linden Tol & Aliceson Carter, Tank, London
2010 Carry On Capital, Vincent van Scoff Gallery, London
Books in Limbo, Tank, London
2009 Plum Pudding, Tank Gallery, London
The Grand Plasto-Baader-Books, Kaleid Editions, London
P I G M E N T & P U L P, Tank Gallery, London
Think Tank, Tank Gallery, London
1st Public White Cube: Situation Doom, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, USA
2008 X 2008, allgirls international art, Berlin
2007 Achtung Sprengarbeiten! (Caution! Blasting Operations!) ngbk, Berlin, Germany.
2005 Trunk Show, The Women's Library, London
2003 Directions Exhibition, Lethaby Gallery, London
2002 BAAD, Degree Show, Central St Martins, London
2000 The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud Museum, London
1999 Masque, Bar Local, Barcelona
PERFORMANCE & LIVE ART
2020 Moon Blast, Moon Bar, virtual event for University of the Underground
2019 Orchestra of Destruction, Demolition Season, Ovalhouse, London, UK
2018 Réalta, Science Gallery 10th Anniversary, Trinity Square, Dublin, Ireland
2017 Star Storm, Ars Electronica Festival, Linz, Austria
Make Your Mark, European Space Agency, Netherlands
2016 Smash & Burn - Interactive art event, Science Gallery, Dublin
Radical Atoms & the Alchemists of our Time, Ars Electronica Festival, Linz
Royal Academy of Arts Summer Festival, London
Hackney WickED LATE, Mick's Garage, Queens Yard, London
2015 Wild Worlds: Dark Sides, VAULT Festival
2014 Carbon, Wild Worlds at VAULT Festival, London
Spellbound, Wild Worlds at VAULT Festival, London
Time Travellers Lost Love, Shoreditch House, London
2010 Pagan Epic, Secret Garden Party, UK
Carry On Capital, Vincent van Scoff Gallery, London
In Limbo, Tank, London
2009 Land of Ideas, BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) Berlin
POLICE AND VIOLENCE, curated by Mark McGowan, Sassoon Gallery, London
The One I Love, Brockley Max Festival, Tank Gallery, London
SELECTED TALKS, WORKSHOPS, DEMONSTRATIONS & INTERVIEWS
2022 Considering Art Podcast with Bob Chaundy
2021 IMPACT Workshop, Curated by KOSMICA INSTITUTE for the International Space University Space Studies Programme
Industry: The Modern Day Medicis? Panel discussion, Science Gallery Dublin, Trinity Collage Dublin, Accenture The Dock
SCI:HAUS Soundbites
2020 Moon Bar, Online talk and live explosive artwork, University of the Underground, London
Interview for Space Rocks: Uplink
2019 Interview with Ryan Mcgranaghan for Origins podcast.
Instinct & Intention, Lecture at the International Space University, Strasbourg, France
Alive in Space, Panel Discussion at the International Astronautical Congress, Washington DC, USA
Introducing The Orchestra Of Destruction, Interview with Robert Elms show, BBC Radio London
Star Storms, Talk at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Goddard, USA
2018 Chaos and Creation, Lecture at the International Space University, Strasbourg, France
Chaos and Creation: Presentation at The Conscious Culturing of Space, International Astronautical Congress, Bremen
ORBITS, ARTS & CULTURE: Panel discussion, International Astronautical Congress, Bremen
Our Place in Space, Panel Discussion at GLOBART, Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria
Rules of Engagement: Keynote Speaker at Sparks Forum, Brussels, Belgium
KOSMICA: Interactive presentation at Ethereal Things, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland, UK
2017 Key note speaker at 'STEAM: It is working?' SCI:COM, Dublin, Ireland
The Art of Science, Lecture at the International Space University, Strasbourg, France
Art, Science and Explosives, Virtual Talk for Cities in Space Conference, Austin, Texas, USA
Just a "Fly-by" or really a "Rendezvous"?, European Digital Art and Science Network Symposium, Ars Electronica Festival.
Creative Practitioners in Space, Paper Presentation at the International Astronautical Congress, Adelaide, Australia
Artist Talk at Deep Space 8K, Ars Electronica Center, Austria
Artist Talk at Hallsville Primary School, London
2016 Espresso for the Mind, Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany
Impact, interactive workshop for young people at the Science Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
Introducing Spectra art series, Imperial Festival, Imperial College, London
Prix Ars Electronica Forums – Art & Science Panel Talk, Ars Electronica Festival 2016, Linz, Austria
Interview with Goldierocks, Bestival Weekly on Soho FM.
2015 Panel Discussion for SheSaid.So, Shoreditch House, London
2006 Reportage Aoife, Deutschlandfunk Radio
2005 Interview with Aoife van Linden Tol by Scarlet Bochan
2002 Interview with Aoife van Linden Tol by Phoung Quan
SELECTED WRITING & PUBLICATIONS WORK IS FEATURED IN:
Wild Alchemy Journal: Earth Edition, Featuring Big Bang and Journey of an Explosion and
Wild Alchemy Journal: Fire Edition, Featuring article Helios, artwork Sparks, Suns AR artwork Absorption,
FIRE: Flashes to Ashes in British Art 1776-2019
Art Works and interview: Wild Alchemy Journal: Fire Edition
Paper: Feasibility study for a Commercial Space Station in Low Earth Orbit, International Astronautical Congress 2023
Paper: Analysis of Space Dragons: A Framework for Psychological Safety for Long Duration Spaceflight. International Astronautical Congress 2022
Paper: Sky Lake: Moon Environment Design, International Astronautical Congress 2021
Paper: The Conscious Culturing of Space, International Astronautical Congress, 2018
Paper: Can Artist Change the Future of Culture in Space beyond Design?, International Astronautical Congress, 2017
Article: Chaos and Creation, Room, The Space Journal,
Illustration: Story of an Electron, Wild Alchemy Journal, April 2021
Featured: AI - Artificial Intelligence, Ars Electronica Festival 2017
Featured: The Practice of Art & Science, Ars Electronica, The European Digital Art & Science Network. 2017
Article: Without Walls, Art Licks Magazine, 2012
BA Dissertation: What is Landscape Art?, 2002
Exhibition Catalog: Fire: Flashes to Ashes in British Art 1692-2019
Exhibition Catalog: Achtung Sprengarbeiten! ISBN 978-3-938515-10-5, 2007
Copies of selected writing can be requested via [email protected]
