“All That Remains” is an exhibition by LaveryRing, the artistic collaboration of Liam Lavery and Eithne Ring, at The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion in Fitzgerald’s Park. This exhibition marks the culmination of Liam and Eithne’s residency at Spike Island, Cork. This project delves into the complexities of the human condition, focusing on themes of incarceration, crime, punishment, displacement, and resistance. At the heart of the exhibition is “The Smell of Crime”, a series LaveryRing developed during their time on Spike Island in June 2024, where they “bottled” stories of crime and punishment, capturing the emotional weight of isolation and confinement through scent.
“Spike Island, with its haunting architecture and layered history, provided the perfect setting for this exploration. The lingering aromas within its prison walls, built up over centuries, serve as our artistic medium, telling stories of poverty, isolation, and injustice—parallels that extend to current global conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond. The exhibition is designed to be an immersive sensory experience, using scent as a primary tool to evoke the smells linked to crime and punishment. These olfactory elements are woven together with installations, sculptures, and printmaking, creating a multi-sensory narrative that mirrors the human experiences within the confines of Spike Island. While this project marks a shift from our typical public art practice, it remains deeply connected through its focus on history, social justice, and storytelling. By combining our expertise in public art, material knowledge, and spatial design, we aim to push the boundaries of our practice and engage a wider audience. The inclusion of scent also allows the exhibition to be more accessible, offering a unique and engaging experience for the visually impaired.”
