My following series emerged from a need to confront the tragic realities faced by women and girls in Magdalene Laundries. Intrigued by who these women were, I struggled with the haunting truth that they lived lives in pure anonymity. Women like you and me, each with their own dreams, struggles, and stories, yet reduced to shadows in a system that erased their existence.

From the mid-19th century until the late 20th century (until 1996😱), over 30,000 women and girls were admitted to these institutions in Ireland alone. These places of supposed rehabilitation became sites of relentless torment. Women were confined for reasons as having a child out of wedlock, being victims of abuse, or even simply defying societal norms. Many endured years of hard labor, emotional abuse, and isolation, stripped of their identities and left to suffer in silence.

In reflecting on these horrific experiences, I will dive into the broader implications of such anonymity. What does it mean to live in a world where identity can be so easily erased? How does the weight of anonymity shape our understanding of self-worth and connection? If we were confined within four walls, stripped of our narratives, what would become of our existence? In what ways do modern women face their own battles against a system that often seeks to render them invisible?