30 May – 28 June 2026

Aisling Roche, Nacria, new porcelain and ceramic sculptures

Nacria is the culmination of a series of experiences and collaborations: a residency in Galway working alongside marine scientists aboard the SV Tom Crean; mentorship with artist Rachel Parry, supported through the Sample Studios Sample 15 Bursary; and a residency at Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre.

Themes of circulation, memory, and scientific intervention are explored throughout the exhibition. Circulation echoes the rhythms of waves, underwater currents, and the journey a single drop of water takes as it moves around the globe. Memory is both personal and collective — rooted in childhood experiences immersed in the sea, while also reflecting the changing coastal landscape shaped by erosion and environmental change. Scientific ideas are translated into sensory and emotional experiences, encouraging connection, reflection, and awareness.

The exhibition was introduced by artist, eco- and social activist Lisa Fingleton. A short video by Donagh Long can be viewed here . . .

Installation photos by Dave Ryan Media

Aisling's choice of material plays a vital role in communicating her ideas. Porcelain, with its delicacy and inherent brittleness, becomes a metaphor for the vulnerability of marine ecosystems. Embroidery introduces fragments of landscape while embracing a slower, meditative process that mirrors the gradual erosion of coastal environments. Translucent photographic prints appear as ghost-like traces from the future, while drawings and paintings serve as reminders of what we have — and what we stand to lose.

Nacria is both an homage to the ocean and a call to protect it. It is at once a celebration and a warning, seeking to reconnect viewers with the fragility, complexity, and vitality of marine ecosystems, while encouraging a deeper sense of care and responsibility for our shared future.