Welcome to the Mosney mobile architecture project blog. A project initiated by artist Anne Kelly funded by the Arts Council of Ireland Artist in the Community Award 2007 managed by Create, and by Meath County Council. This project ran from June 2007 to December 2009.
The Mosney site is an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, and former holiday camp located at Julianstown, Co.Meath. On average residents were living in Mosney for 2 – 6 years while they awaited a decision on their refugee status. During this time they were not permitted to work or access to formal education. The population in Mosney during 2007-2009 was 750 people, with residents from over 50 different countries.
Our main objective was to show project participant artwork to an audience both inside and outside of Mosney by holding an exhibition in a custom made mobile structure of our design. A mobile Gallery.
Gallery unit design based on a hexasphericon geometric shape
The aim of this project was to work in a design team with Mosney residents. The project had an open door policy and facilitated over 30 participants with a smaller core group. The core group included Ismale Khurdri, Bahroz Wakashi, Zeljka Savic, Elena Munteanu, Ennie Mokcadi Leboa, Oksana Stepaneuko, Tolulope Toye, Ali Ahmed and artist Anne Kelly. The project was inclusive to all residents during all stages.
The objective of the project was to design and build a re-useable mobile structure through a process that engages in the cultural and political context of Mosney as a reception centre for asylum seekers. That embraces mobility, personal geography and migration, experimental design and aesthetics, sustainability as well as functionality.
Through an interactive and creative process of research, gallery visits, meeting with other artists, workshops and discussion, specific thematic and aesthetic concerns identified steered the future direction of the project. The outcome of this process highlighted participant strengths and realistic goals for the project.
The design is based on the geometric shape called a hexasphericon and will have a diameter of approximately 10ft. A hexasphericon structure has the ability to roll erratically in a “Z” shape motion. However, for the purpose of the project the structure would be firmly grounded with a metal brace support when necessary. This structure to be used as an independent gallery space to exhibit participants work. The modular design allows the structure to potentially travel and exhibit anywhere.
It was also our hope that this structure can be administrated/ utilised by participants after the project has concluded. This may facilitate future exhibitions by Mosney residents, multipurpose events or a facility for other groups to use on application.
The gallery design was not built (yet – I still have hope..). The Mosney Project became a research project through a practice of workshops and art classes that also included exhibition visits and library visits. The group did: exhibit both inside Mosney and at Dublin City Civic Offices during International Refugee week; led a workshop on the status of asylum seekers in Commonplace Amateur Projects, Dublin; held an artist talk at The Lab, Dublin; participated in art class every week for two years; artists Joe Coveney, Fiona Whitty and Brian Maguire were invited and gave workshops and talks; Ismale Khudri and Anne Kelly gave a talk at Irish Museum Association’s 2008 Annual Conference: New Approaches to the Museum’s Engagement with the local Community in Trinity College, Dublin; and participants were successful in building their artistic practices and continue to do so – please look at further pages on this blog for examples of participant artwork.
Please click on links at the top of the Mobile Architecture Project page for more information. Any comments or information regarding this project are appreciated.
Anne Kelly
Artist website
