Award-winning artist Marie Brett from Dungarvan is bringing her acclaimed film “Yes, But Do You Care?” to the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Waterford on Monday, 27 October, next.
Yes, But Do You Care? is a compelling audio-visual art piece that creatively explores dementia care and human rights through a blend of real-life testimonies, dance, and visual storytelling.
More than 64,000 people are currently living with dementia in Ireland and this figure is expected to rise to over 150,131 by 2045, according to the HSE. Ireland is also currently implementing legislative changes to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, affecting the rights of carers and individuals being cared for.
Yes, But Do You Care? creatively responds to ethics around family care-giving and the impact of Ireland’s new capacity legislation. Imagery includes surreal and tender scenes: a muscle-man bravado in a kitchen, a man spinning wildly in tall grass and dancing under high-rise flats. The soundtrack mixes tango and waltz rhythms with powerful real-life audio testimonies and legal language, creating a haunting yet humanising experience.
GOMA screening
The GOMA event on Monday, 27 October at 2.00 pm includes a screening of the film, a dance response by Australian-Irish professional dancer, Kelly Kessing, and a Q&A session with the artist, Marie Brett and special guest Sundara O’Higgins (IMMA Curator).
The event forms part of a wider national tour of the work designed to spark vital conversations about care, capacity, humanity, and legislation in Ireland today.
Speaking about the project, artist Marie Brett said: “It’s a privilege to get to make artwork responding to such personal and life-changing individual experiences. The family carers I worked with were so stellar in their bravery, and I’ll never forget them describing a silent scream while I was researching Ireland’s new capacity legislation and how it would affect family carers”.
“The challenge then for an artist is to honour the truth of those stories and reimagine a creative piece that’s both artistically ambitious and ethically sound. It’s fantastic that the art piece is now in IMMA’s collection for generations to come, and I’m really looking forward to meeting visitors and sharing some behind-the-scenes stories at the screening events,” she added.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, artist, advocate, carer, or member of the public with an interest in the human condition and social justice, the afternoon promises a moving and thought-provoking experience.
The GOMA film screening and discussion event is free to attend and everyone is welcome. Doors open 20 minutes before the screening at 2.00 pm.
Screening at Réalta Centre for Arts and Health, University Hospital Waterford
Yes, But Do You Care? will subsequently be screened from 28 – 31 October in the Réalta Centre for Arts and Health at University Hospital Waterford.
Funded by: The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Supported by: The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and other arts, health, and community partners.
Marie Brett
Marie Brett, who is based in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, is an Irish visual artist known for producing emotionally resonant, socially engaged work across digital, sculptural, and live event forms. Her practice often explores themes of healthcare, trauma, memory, and human rights. Her work is housed in public collections, including IMMA, and she is widely recognised for her collaborative and ethical approach to creating powerful narrative-driven art.
