More than 40 million people are trapped in modern slavery.

This summer, acclaimed visual artist Marie Brett will explore the contemporary human rights and social justice issues of human trafficking, modern-day-slavery and drug farming in Ireland with a multi-sensorial installation at a secret Cork city location.

The Day-Crossing Farm, developed over two years’ consultation with human justice and advocacy organisations, scholars, gardeners and people with lived experience of trafficking and forced labour, will be accessible to limited in-person audiences, subject to government guidelines, from June 14th – June 20th, as part of Cork Midsummer Festival.

“Human trafficking is one of the most concerning human rights issues of our time,” said Brett.

“It’s a criminal underworld activity that is happening today right here in Ireland, with hundreds of trafficking victims, often living within local communities, hidden in plain sight.

“I’ve learnt so much and had the privilege of working with some of Ireland’s leading thinkers and creatives, as well as, importantly, people who’ve lived these profound experiences themselves.”

‘Deceived, then trapped’

Widely considered as one of Ireland’s leading visual artists working in social arts practice, Brett’s vision for The Day-Crossing Farm is to provoke new thinking and discussion around one of society’s most critical contemporary human rights issues.

“The art piece now made is immersive and inhabits a secret location with multi-sensorial, promenade encounters. I was keen to explore how ideas of a visionary utopia and the lure of escapism could collide with the reality of a person being deceived then trapped; and for the art piece to enable a hauntingly sensorial experience for an audience, where you’re left hungry with questions, keen to find out more when leaving the work.”

The installation will stream on-demand online, from 7pm on June 14th – 27th. To book tickets visit corkmidsummer.com.