The Valkyries
Brief
In collaboration with NIVAL, we had access to a wide range of information concerning the WAAG (Women Artist Action Group). I have never heard of these woman that were aware of the injustice in the gender representation in artist exhibition. It is unfair to see that where 70% of the students in art colleges are women but only 14% were represented in exhibitions. Which made me realize that we don’t know many Irish women in the History. Therefore it led to the conclusion that it felt necessary to find a way to communicate about how women in Ireland contributed into building this country. Per example we might know Friedrich Engels but we don’t know much about the woman that showed him the condition of life in the working class sphere. This person, Mary Burns, also contributed in the making of the communist manifesto by Karl Marx.
Afterwards an idea came up to my mind to answer one simple question: How can I make short biographies that are in the same time entertaining and educational. The answer is: Cards. Each card tells a story of a so-called “Valkyrie”. I choose as I title Valkyries because I like the mythological aspect of these warriors who fought for their lands without the help of any men. Besides they are affiliated to Ireland with its strong Gaelic roots.
The 26 cards comes from the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland, it is about trying to give sense to every part of the project. Nevertheless, the deck is meant to be a physical product but is presented on this website to show the object on an interactive space.
