Mask On/Mask Off

Posted on : October 18, 2021

Finally, this October, the finished “Mask On/Mask Off” whole-school art/photography project was installed on the main stairwell of the school. The ten 4ft x 4ft panels display photos of virtually all the school population taken in May 2021 during Creative Schools Week. The photos give us a snapshot of the impact of mask-wearing in school in 2020 and 2021.  Mask-wearing changed the way we saw one another, often only half-recognising people who were familiar the previous year. New students in the school did not know what their teachers looked like and vice versa. This was the inspiration behind the “Mask On – Mask Off” whole-school art project. Almost every student and member of staff had their photo taken by a committee of TY students under the direction of Máire Hynes, Art teacher. Everyone had two photos taken, one with and one without their mask. The photos are scattered across the ten panels, so we have to search for ourselves and one another, mask on and mask off! The work will be a permanent fixture in the school, reminding us of these strange times. Thanks to Mels Signs for the finished printed panels.