Cohost was an online group exhibition in 2021 curated by Astrid Newman and showcased the ongoing research of students of the MA in Art + Research Collaboration  in ARC IADT, in Dublin.

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My research looked at the presence of Intergenerational Trauma in Ireland.  I studied the Window Tax of 1799 -1822 in this context .  The study of light is central to my practice which made the Window Tax of great interest to me.   

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Intergenerational trauma is an emerging field of research which has found that trauma is passed from generation to generation.  Trans generational effects are cultural, neurobiological, familial and epigenetic and impact issues such as poverty, equality and social progress.   

 

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Houses with five or more windows were liable for the Window Tax in Ireland, which led to windows being blocked up before it came into effect.  The tax placed a heavy burden on many people some of whom were on the brink of starvation. It had the greatest impact on the urban poor as the lack of light and air in homes caused the rapid spread of disease. The cabin dwelling rural poor were already living in darkness and abject poverty before the introduction of the tax.  Having few or no windows they were exempt from paying the tax.

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