Nach Cuma? Who Cares?

Aaron Sunderland Carey

Déardaoin 21 Lúnasa - Dé Máirt 30 Meán Fómhair 2025

Curated by Margarita Cappock

Nach Cuma? Who Cares? is an exhibition that explores the politics of care and responsibility with a focus on class and race within working class communities in Dublin. Developed out of a series of collaborative workshops with youth and adult groups in Rialto, Bluebell and Ballymun the project responds to an alarming rise in hate-driven rhetoric and division, particularly within working-class spaces.

This exhibition follows on from Carey’s earlier work Stones, which focused on the relationship between individuals and place in Ballymun. Where Stones honed in on one community, Nach Cuma? expands to hold space across multiple sites, bringing people into slow, honest conversations about difficult truths and lived realities. Through a dialogical process and workshops within The LAB Gallery, the exhibition becomes a platform for intergenerational dialogue and reflection. Rejecting tokenism and reactionary politics, the work seeks instead to centre care and asks: who provides it, who receives it, and what happens when it is absent? Through visual, social, and dialogic forms, Nach Cuma? offers not conclusions but a methodology: one of listening, reflection, and accountability.

The exhibition will open on Thursday 21st August: 6pm - 8pm

The exhibition will be opened by Willa White.

Aaron Sunderland Carey is a Dublin-based socially engaged artist and youth worker working across community spaces, youth clubs, and both informal and formal educational settings. His work investigates the intersections of land, class, masculinity, community, and systemic oppression. Central to his practice is the use of long-term collaboration, often with marginalised groups, to foster spaces for difficult, necessary conversations. At the core of this long-term practice is over three years of collaboration with Rialto Youth Project and a life spent in Ballymun making art and working with the community of Ballymun. Aaron’s work is grounded in ethics of care and accountability and is influenced by his hometown of Ballymun. He employs methods rooted in listening, reflection, and mutual learning—facilitating workshops that prioritise community voice and agency. He has worked extensively in areas such as Ballymun and Rialto, developing partnerships with youth projects, community organisations and local schools.

Aaron has participated in numerous socially engaged residencies and projects, including Common Ground’s Collective Futures awards in studio 468, and has collaborated with groups including Rialto Youth Project, Poppintree Youth Project, The Axis Ballymun and The LAB Gallery. His practice sits between visual art, storytelling, and social action—always aiming to make space for storytelling and transformation.

This project would not have been possible without the care, insight, and energy of many collaborators and participants across the city.

I would like to thank the older women’s group in Bluebell and the young men from the Rialto Youth Project who were so open and welcoming, testing ideas, sharing stories, and showing up with honesty and generosity. Your contributions shaped the foundation of this work.

Thank you to Dannielle McKenna, John Bissett, and the team in Rialto Youth Project, whose support and commitment to care-led community work has been integral. I am grateful also to those in Ballymun and Dublin 1 who joined the project during its residency phase—your perspectives widen the conversation and add crucial depth.

To Margarita Cappock, Clara McSweeney and all the staff at The LAB Gallery, thank you for holding space for this kind of work, and for supporting socially engaged practice as living, evolving process.

Thanks to Common Ground and studio 468 for supporting the development of this project, and to all those who helped make the workshops and conversations happen—whether through facilitation, logistics or listening.

Thank you to the Axis Ballymun for your unwavering support in the initial phases of this work.

Thank you to Niamh Ní Chonchubhair for your support and wisdom, this work would not have been what it is today without you.

Special thanks to Willa White, whose words of wisdom are a work of art in their own right and who is one of those people who made it over the wall and reached back to show others that it is possible.

Thank you to the community of Ballymun and those who contributed their time and stories. Many of those who collaborated and contributed to the work have opted to stay anonymous; as a result, the decision was made for all participants to remain anonymous to the public, to protect those most at risk. However, without these people this work would not be possible. Thank you for your time, your energy and your bravery. Although your name may not be written in black and white, you and your spirit created and shaped this work. You know who you are, you are legends.

Finally, thank you to every participant who shared time, thought, and care. This project belongs to all of you.

Imeachtaí gaolmhar

Culture Night at the Lab Gallery

Join us this Friday from 6–9pm for an evening of art, play, and conversation.

Our current exhibiting artist, Aaron Sunderland Carey, presents his solo show:
Nach Cuma? Who Cares? The exhibition will remain open late for the evening.

At 7pm, Aaron will host a special game of Jenga with discussion prompts, joined by artists and researchers John Bissett, Thais Muniz, and NAMACO (Han Hogan and Donal Fullam). Together, they’ll explore themes from Aaron’s work—class, race, and housing inviting the audience to listen, reflect, and take part in the conversation.

Come for the games, stay for the chats.

Imeachtaí Nuacht

16 Meán Fómhair 2025