Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

Opening Doors supported by Create and the Artist in the Community Scheme

Untitled (Nida and Lainey) from Opening Doors (2006), Lambda chromogenic print, mounted on Dibond, Dimensions: 110cm x 164cm. Nida Bautista, Josephine Carambias, Lot Gernan, Nigar Mehir, Lorna Orap, Terry Reyes, Margie Taguibao.
Untitled (Annmarie with Naoise, Sean and Jacob) from Opening Doors (2006), Lambda chromogenic print, mounted on Dibond, 110cm x 162cm. Annmarie Asoka, Marian Fidel, Dexie Ocampos, Joycyl Quemada, Hilda Regaspi, Ednalee Sulpico.
Untitled (Amelita and Mick) from Opening Doors (2006), Lambda chromogenic print, mounted on Dibond, 110cm x 162cm. Maria Terisa Carinea, Noemi Cortez, Imelda Faustino, Elsa Fontanoz, Wilce Gimado, Cherry Monera, Amelita Padin, Joesy Ytienza.

Opening Doors (2006) is a collaborative project undertaken with the Domestic Workers Action Group in association with Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, informed by the writings of bell hooks.

Through the active participation in producing artworks that make visible their everyday experiences, the participating domestic workers involved in this project create a new empowering and liberating lived or “third” space that is outside the reach of imposing power dynamics.  Through their collaboration in the creation of six large colour photographic pieces, photographic representation and the creation of meaning is placed in the hands of the women themselves.  As a response to tensions that occur within the private home as workplace, the women take control of the domestic space and make it their own, revealing to us the invaluable work that they do while simultaneously commanding control of their own image and how they are perceived in Irish society.

The Domestic Workers Action Group continually campaign for the establishment of statutory protections that reflect the reality of their working lives.