The Unknown Known

By Laurence O’Toole – View Artist’s Profile

The kernel of this idea originated in 2018 during my MA studies. It stems from an idea I developed while researching cosmological phenomena and the work of Trevor Paglen, that of ‘Footprints’, evidence of unseen matter as it interacts with ordinary matter. Much like the gravitational effects that infer the presence of dark matter or the suggestion of something sinister and the anxiety that manifests from these pressures. The title references classic risk management jargon but also the infamous Donald Rumsfeld quote about a fictitious threat from Iraqi forces.