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ARCHIVE: Yes, But Do You Care? - Marie Brett & Retrospective - Anam Beo

January 17, 2026
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Four women and a man standing in an art gallery smiling at camera

Esker Arts opened Yes But Do You Care? by artist Marie Brett and Retrospective by Anam Beo on Saturday 4th October 2025.

The exhibitions were officially opened by Sinéad O'Reilly, Combined Arts Director, Arts Council.

Yes, But Do You Care? is a filmic artwork and print series exploring dementia family care-giving and Ireland's evolving capacity legislation. Featuring real-life stories, it follows a male performer moving through domestic and rural settings, accompanied by tango, waltz, and legislative voices. The Dementia Carers Campaign Network collaborated with Marie to share their unheard experiences, transforming private care realities into an evocative artistic abstraction. 

Choreographer/Dancer Philip Connaughton contributed to the piece, developed in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and independent advisors.

Marie Brett is a leading Irish socially engaged visual artist creating multi-disciplinary works that address sensitive community issues. Her practice spans moving image, audio, sculpture, instillation, print, and publication, is showcased in galleries and unconventional spaces. She collaborates with artists, field specialists, scholars, and individuals facing life challenges; managing complex multi-stakeholder projects involving co-creation, curation, and commissioning methods.

A Goldsmiths graduate with BA and MA Arts degrees. Marie's work in the IMMA and The Arts Council's National Collections. She exhibited at Brussels' European Parliament and toured two national exhibitions. Recent projects include an international justice commission, a series on Holy Wells' healing lore, and an immersive installation on human trafficking, modern slavery and drug-farming, creating an immersive installation with an on-line archive.

Retrospective was a celebration of artwork from the Anam Beo Arts Collective at Esker Arts Centre, journey through artworks, archival materials and films, showcasing a legacy of creativity of arts and health in Offaly.

As we mark Anam Beo’s 20th anniversary, we invite you to explore Offaly’s creative arts spaces, experience the Anam Beo programme, and engage with key voices at the intersection of arts, health, critical social thinking, and public engagement. Join us as we reflect on our journey, celebrate our impact, and look ahead to the future of creative engagement in health and community settings.

Curated by Rowena Keaveny and Julie Spollen this is a unique opportunity to experience Offaly’s art facilities and spaces, enjoy and experience the artwork, discover Anam Beo’s programmes and publications, and engage in meaningful artistic discussions.

Anam Beo, Offaly's Arts, Health & Wellbeing Programme is supported by Offaly County Council Artists in the Community Project, Creative Ireland and the HSE.

The exhibition ran until Saturday 1st November.

Please see image gallery below.

Photography: Paul Moore Photography

Television screens with surreal imagery on gallery walls
Television screens with surreal imagery on gallery walls
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Television screens with surreal imagery on gallery walls
Artwork on a white wall
Text artwork on white wall
Text artwork on white wall
Prints on white wall
Prints on white wall
Artwork on easel
Artwork on easel
Photographic prints on wall
Large collage on white wall
Large collage on white wall
Large collage on white wall
Photographic collage in frame of people dancing
Artwork on a white wall
Bench with words printed on
Bench in front of prints on wall
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Text: Retrospective Anam Beo
Television screens with surreal imagery on gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Artwork on a white wall
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Photographs of cutlery
Photocollages of cameras and teacups
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
bright abstract painting
Drawing in a gallery
Yellow painting in a white frame
Paintings on gallery wall
Artwork on a white wall
Artwork on a white wall
Artwork on a white wall
Artwork on a white wall
Rorschach artwork on easel
Wooden box on a plinth
Wooden box on a plinth
Easel and white plinths with wooden boxes in a gallery
White plinth with box and easel in gallery
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Blue bench in white gallery
Blue bench in white gallery
Blue bench with smell like roses written in pink
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Artwork on a white wall
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Bright artwork on white gallery walls
Woman dressed in black looking at television screens in gallery
Woman in gallery looking at large wooden boards with surreal images
Man taking photograph of television screens
Two women in gallery looking at large wooden boards with surreal images
Television screens with surreal imagery on gallery walls
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Surreal images on large wooden boards
Surreal images on large wooden boards
Surreal images on large wooden boards
Surreal images on large wooden boards
Surreal images on large wooden boards
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Wooden boards with surreal images leaning against white gallery walls
Man in blazer looking at artwork
Two women talking in front of large wooden boards with surreal images
Group of people in a white gallery space
Group of people in a white gallery space
Group of people in a white gallery space
group of people talking in a white gallery space
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Woman in light blue hoodie looking at artwork
Man in blazer looking at artwork
Man and woman talking in a crowded room
Man in white jumper and glasses surrounded by people
Man in wide brimmed fedora looking at artwork
Side profile of man in glasses with arms folded
Woman with dark curly hair and a black t-shirt
Man in blazer looking at television screen
Man in wide brimmed fedora looking at artwork
Boy in red hoodie looking at artwork
Woman in red dress looking at artwork
group of people talking in a white gallery space
Group of people talking in a white gallery space
Man in white jumper and glasses surrounded by people
Man and woman talking in a crowded room
Two men talking in a crowded room
Two men talking in a crowded room
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Two women talking in a crowded room
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Two men talking in a crowded room
Two men talking in a crowded room
Girl in a red dress looking at gallery walls
Woman in red jacket looking at art work on wall
Women in a crowded gallery talking
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Two men talking in a crowded room
Three women looking at artwork
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Three women taking a selfie in a gallery
Three women talking in a white gallery space
Woman looking at artwork in a gallery
Three well dressed woman in a gallery with artwork behind them
Woman showing a man her phone in a white room
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Man in wide brim hat talking to a woman in a white gallery space with TV screens behind them
Man in wide brim hat talking to a woman in a white gallery space with TV screens behind them
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Man in suit jacket and glasses reading from script beside a woman in dress and glasses
Man in suit and glasses standing behind a lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf holding a book
Man in suit and glasses speaking at profile flanked by two women
Man in suit and glasses speaking at lectern flanked by two women
Man in suit and glasses speaking at lectern flanked by two women
Three well dressed people in a white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Woman in glasses and black dress speaking behind lectern
Woman in glasses and black dress speaking behind lectern with another woman standing behind her
Woman in glasses and black dress speaking behind lectern with another woman standing behind her
Woman in glasses and black dress speaking behind lectern
Woman in glasses and black dress speaking behind lectern with people standing listening
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern with people listening behind her
Blonde woman in large green scarf speaking behind lectern
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Woman in wheelchair in crowded gallery
Two men in white gallery space
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Group of people dressed in black clothes standing in white gallery
Two women in black clothes standing in a white gallery
Group of brightly dressed people in white gallery
Women in white gallery
Blonde woman in black jacket speaking behind podium
Man in suit jacket and glasses speaking behind podium
Man in glasses and suit behind a podium
Man in glasses and suit behind a podium
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Four women and a man standing in an art gallery smiling at camera
Crowd gathered in white gallery space
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Two women talking in a white gallery space
Two women talking in a white gallery space
two women standing in front of artwork in a gallery
two women standing in front of artwork in a gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV screens
Blonde woman in large green scarf standing beside TV Screens
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery
Blonde woman standing in front of artwork in gallery