Gallery Talk: Exhibition walk through of 'Better a bare foot than none'

Better a bare foot than none presents Katarzyna Perlak’s tender crafts methodology and explores how heritage and traditional handwork practices can be re-imagined from contemporary feminist, queer and migrant perspectives. Perlak’s Pajaki sculptures, a starting point for the exhibition, are a material manifestation of Polish tradition. The paper chandeliers, also known as 'spiders', are hung to protect the home, and are historically crafted for Christian, pagan and folk celebrations. Considering the contradictions within problematic social movements in Poland, as well as her own longing for home, Perlak utilises the feeling of nostalgia to imagine new possibilities for the future.

Katarzyna Perlak’s exhibitions include Liverpool Biennial (2025); V&A Museum, London (2024); Whitechapel Gallery, London (2023); B3 Biennial of Moving Image, Frankfurt (2023); Brent Biennial, London (2022); Jerwood Arts, London (2021); Detroit Art Week (2019); BALTIC, Gateshead (2017); Diaspora Pavilion, 57th Venice Biennale (2017)

Marysia Więckiewicz-Carroll has organised and curated numerous exhibitions and projects in Ireland and abroad, independently and in partnership with various institutions and local authorities, including Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane and Irish Museum of Modern Art. She was a co-editor of Paper Visual Art Journal, and the founding director of Berlin Opticians Gallery. This exhibition is supported by an Arts Council Project Award.

Event location Information: This event will be held in the ground floor gallery. The space will be fully lit with free hanging sculptures and coloured walls. For further accessibility information please contact Learning + Public Engagement Curator Órla Goodwin.