IRELAND

Eimear Walshe’s project explores the complex power dynamics that arise around the collective construction of buildings through the Irish tradition of “meitheal,” groups of workers – neighbours, friends, and relatives – who come together to help each other. This theme, initially inspired by the current housing crisis in Ireland, unfolds through a multi-channel audiovisual installation set in contexts of raw earth buildings, a millennia-old practice with local variations worldwide. In the video, seven performers portray archetypal characters who, through frenetic dialogues, outline the consequences of the land dispute that took place in the country at the end of the 19th century, highlighting the intricate relationships between private property, built environment, and sexual conservatism.