Welcome to the Neighbourhood 2008
14–27 July, Askeaton

With local community help, the artist organised a game of bingo for one night only in the Community Hall. This was the first time in 25 years that Askeaton hosted a game of bingo and two hundred people attended. A final installation consisted of sound recordings of the event. Since then, a revival occurred and bingo has been held once a month in the town, thanks to Michael's foresight.

This artist duo often focus on historical sites and local social systems. Hence was made as an intervention on the title of a Christian newspaper. Pill Box consisted of a flag sited on one of several abandoned pillboxes in Askeaton. These concrete structures were built around the town as lookout stations during World War II to forewarn against possible invasion from German forces attacking from the Shannon River Estuary. The artists’ flag featured a film still of Charlie Chaplin from the film The Great Dictator (1940), installed atop the pillbox.

The artist used a variety of materials to create an installation. She then photographed herself in-situ within the installation and showed these photographs as part of a final installation.

Hoffner completed a series of architectural interventions in unused retail units around the town. In one space, she created a raised floor, lit from underneath with fluorescent lights. In another space a kind of bricolage was constructed, using building materials and images of buildings and sites around Askeaton.

The artist created a collection of sculptural tumbleweeds, leaving them in various locations around the town.