Liam Mooney

putting urself first: queer blog encounters no one asked for but are getting anyway, is a reflective healing process that looks into the trials and tribulations of moving on after heart break - contextualised by the interactions of a queer relationship. This practice-based research project weaves its way through my past, present and future, raising questions around how my personal experience and queer intimate lifestyle can be situated within academic research. Through the influence from my encounters and everyday happenings, the project analyses the relationship between my past and present which is introduced in the form of blog entries. By observing these moments of encounter in relation to my past experiences, I am able to manifest these as self-portraits through the means of performance and installation. The way my life presents itself as research is linked to the intimate connection it has to my research methodology. Supported by the diaristc methods of the blog posts and my ability to display my vulnerabilities so publicly, the project introduced the idea of queering heteronormative academic expectations within research. This, in turn, explores the dynamics between public/private spaces, observing/witnessing and online/offline platforms in regard to my practice. With the final installation: whatever shit happens in my personal life, I bring straight to my practice, being another current representation of my research (my life) being faced with the pressures of my past relationship and the academic institution.