The Magdalene Sister's Magdalene Laundries

 

I have taken part in a project that is both collaborative AND individual, that looks at the history of our College. Specifically the Magdalene Laundries that once existed here. In our studio group we watched several films about the Laundary and the women who were imprisoned here. Some by David, the man who began us on this project, and other films that he has accumilated over the years. Most of these films are striking and emotional as they focus on the struggle these women went through. We also discovered how the Art College is slowly trying to cover up what once happened here. Slowly removing any remaining traces of it. We can still see it happening today. New paint, refurbishment and removal of religious iconic statues.

 

The removal of those statues is what the photo above is about. As part of this project we also had to produce a piece of film or photo that focuses on this particular part of history of the college. I noticded that there was a pedastal and grotto at the bottom of the garden, void of a statue. This pedastal can be seen in the archived photo's of Evelyn Glynn's website Breaking The Rule Of Silence.

http://www.magdalenelaundrylimerick.com/archival.html

The one in between the two rows of trees is the one I looked at. The one on the right is gone without a single trace of it ever having been there. I decided to replace this statue with a live model, A.K.A. my friend Mollie. I couldn't find out exactly what used to be there so I gave an educated guess that it was a statue of Mary. But unforetunatly it crossed my mind that it could have been a depiction of the Mother and Child. Without any children to pose with, it had to be ignored. But I think this worked out as a nice symbol for how the mothers of the laundries were also left without their children. Especially in this particular place. Often the children would be taken from the mothers and placed into the orphanage right next door. The two groups weren't allowed any contact with one another what so ever.

It's a sad truth that this hrrible treatment of women was ever present in our society. Especially when we remember a lot of women were put in there only o suspicion of sexual conduct. Punished for something they didn't do, or for something that's perfectly natural and human.