Cian O’Brien

I was around for the very beginning of ThisIsPopBaby, when the company was founded. It was myself, Philly and Jenny. I remember having long, brilliant conversations with both of them in Jenny’s kitchen in Rialto, planning and thinking about the future and what it might be like. I made decisions in my career that moved me in other directions, and they kept going with the company. Sometimes, I think, “shit, did I make the wrong decision?”

But actually, what I think it means for me is that I have this deep connection to their work – well, that’s how I feel it anyway, I feel really proud to have been there from the start and now to be able to work with them in other ways. It’s really brilliant to be able to present their work at Project, where I can provide a space for them to do something. And also then to just be a fan and see the work, and see things like Alice in Funderland, Riot or Where We Live be fab. I love them.

They also really helped me, from my time working with them, and seeing their work, to understand the world better, and to understand myself better. It was a real privilege to have that experience of them, the stories they tell, the way they shape stories. It was really formative for me.