Paul Rooney Got Up Late The Other Day

Got Up Late the Other Day is the first comprehensive overview of Paul Rooney’s sophisticated art practice; it presents a collection of twenty-four works spanning the seven years from 1998 to 2005, from early CD albums through sound pieces, video, text and performances.

This publication has grown out of the exhibition Know Your Place (18 September – 4 December 2004) at firstsite; Rooney’s first major exhibition in the South East which united his largest body of work to date. The book marks a pivotal career moment, finding Rooney attracting significant national and international acclaim that takes him from his home city of Liverpool to Cuba, Germany and Australia. This geographic shift from a local to global context is reflected in the content, aspiration and feel of his work. Recent pieces move away from re-presenting everyday stories from his own life or the lives of Liverpudlians, to more poetic films reflecting serious historical and political situations, with more wide-ranging cultural references and locations. In this transition from the unassuming to the more ambitious, Rooney retains an unwavering integrity and respect for his subject matter.

Alongside Rooney’s work, the book includes commissioned essays by Michael Bracewell and Claire Doherty. These writings contextualise Rooney as an artist and explore the multiple references within his practice.