How many times have you walked your street? Rebecca Solnit wrote that "walking is a subject that is always straying". In my practice, walking has led itself to the particular matters of public space, community, belonging, and history.

Manchán Magan explains the interconnectivity of place as understood in the Irish language. This is ‘Dinnseanchas’ which describes: ‘the countless layers’ of ‘collective memories’ tied up with land. This mythological phenomenon is applicable to simpler contexts.

During COVID-19, our worlds became smaller. Walking our limited local spaces created this layered memory in real time – 'Dinnseanchas'. By walking, we root ourselves in place, claiming collective ownership of our city. We build our cityscapes by exploring them, and as one explores a place, our thoughts are shaped by it, building us in return.

Through illustration, I have attempted to highlight those powers that walking affords us, including autonomy, community, belonging, and time travel.

Grainne Halpin

Walking

she/her

Page 1 of a poster series

Page 1 of a poster series

Page 6 of a poster series

Page 6 of a poster series

Page 7 of a poster series

Page 7 of a poster series

Riso keepsake of poster series

Riso keepsake of poster series

Riso keepsake of poster series

Riso keepsake of poster series

Selection of pages from an accordion book

Selection of pages from an accordion book

3D loyalty card for Dublin taking the form of a matchbox

3D loyalty card for Dublin taking the form of a matchbox