Avril Corroon

GOT DAMP was a project developed by artist Avril Corroon from research into living conditions as a galvanising issue for communities in exercising their political voice. GOT DAMP represents an ambitious act of solidarity. At the heart of Avril Corroon’s material enquiry was an ongoing exchange over 2 years with 55 households from London and Dublin who joined through activities and workshops, and via an invitation to members of the Community Action Tenants Union Ireland. Energy efficient dehumidifiers and support to manage damp was provided, whilst households contributed experiences, ideas and collected their damp as a material for an artwork.

Avril Corroon's book GOT DAMP collates documentation of research, process, installation images, interviews, poetry and responses from writers, half of whom were project participants. Contributors include Mat Jenner, curator of artist-led space TACO! introduces Got Damp, its contexts and critical scope. Julian Bernard reflects on the project's process in relation to collective action, community and damp in their home. Chris Fite-Wassilak examines contradictions of modern living under the scope of rot and microbial terroir. Kirsten Cooke charts damps’ fluid coordinates through buildings and bodies. Daisy Lafarge presents a selection of poems ‘understudies for air’ and Eimear Murphy asks what is reciprocity.

This book is published by TACO! and was supported by Arts Council Ireland and Lottery funding through Arts Council England.