The Complex Dublin

❌ The Complex Off-Site ❌

A huge thank you to everyone who joined The Dust by Maïa Nunes with Brendan Jenkinson, commissioned by The Complex and presented at Kirkos.

For her live performance, Maïa distilled over a year of intensive research into an hour-long interplay of improvised movement and sound, rooted in the layered history of The Complex’s former site and its connection to St. Mary’s Abbey. Central to this research was a dialogue with archaeologist Edmond O’Donovan, which brought to light a remarkable carved Dundry stone fragment depicting a Monk in Prayer, discovered just metres from the gallery’s former entrance.

This fragment became a defining motif within Maïa’s work. In response, she undertook stone carving under the guidance of eighth-generation stonemason Killian O’Flaherty in his Wicklow workshop, engaging in the rigorous, repetitive act of carving as both material research and memorial gesture.

Thank you to Maïa, Brendan, Kirkos, Edmund, Killian, all collaborators, and to everyone who came along to witness The Dust.

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The Dust marks the beginning of The Complex Off-Site visual arts programme for 2026. In addition to Maïa’s performance, the programme includes three further exhibitions presented across Ireland in partnership with collaborating organisations. Announcements regarding the forthcoming exhibitions will be made in the coming weeks.
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Image credit Patrick Fleming.
Proudly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council.

❌ For Sale: Professional Acoustic Panels (x50) ❌

High quality installation panels for sale, originally installed as part of a professional soundproofing project in August 2024. Top quality sound proofing, eliminating noise from outside (e.g. rain) and substantially reducing noise emanating from inside. 

Suitable for warehouse conversions, event spaces and premises with tin roofs. 

Technical info:

- 1 m wide X 18 m long, 2 inches thick
- Approx. 1m wide x 4.8m long per panel (original roll format)
- ViscoLAM 100 (Mass Loaded Vinyl barrier layer)
- TABS Studio 50 acoustic liner
- Designed for mechanical fixing to roof purlins or wall structures

Original cost €50k, open to serious offers.

Email [email protected] to make an offer.

❌ Artist Profile ❌ 

The Dust by Maïa Nunes with Brendan Jenkinson

Commissioned by The Complex
Presented at Kirkos

Location: Kirkos, Little Green St, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 K744
Date: 21 March
Time: 8pm
Doors: 7.30pm
Tickets: sold out, register for waitlist @ the link in bio

Maïa Nunes is an Irish-Trinidadian interdisciplinary artist and sound healer whose work weaves with voice, sound, cloth, movement, and the land to create immersive and multi-textural worlds in the form of film, audio artwork, sculptural installation and live performance.

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During the development of 'The Dust', a dialogue between Maïa and leading archaeologist Edmond O’Donovan brought to light a carved Dundry stone pillar fragment depicting a Monk in Prayer, uncovered during the excavation of Mary’s Abbey just metres from The Complex’s former gallery entrance. Believed to have formed part of a doorway pillar, the fragment became a defining motif in Maïa’s work. In response, Maïa began stone carving under the guidance of eighth-generation stonemason Killian O’Flaherty at his workshop in Wicklow, recreating the Monk in Prayer motif through the rigorous and repetitive process of carving. This act operates as both material research and memorial gesture, honouring the site’s history and those who once lived there. 
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Image credit Aoife Long.

Special thanks to the stones, to Kirkos, Courtney Deery Heritage Consultancy, to Edmond O’Donovan and Killian O’Flaherty for their generosity and knowledge.

Proudly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council.

In response to the public letter from Minister Jack Chamber's office, suggesting that space could be made available by DCC in the Digital Hub, no such offer or communication has been made to The Complex. It closed up in Arran Street last Friday and is now homeless.

The news nobody who loves this city wanted - The Complex Dublin has closed.

As its Artistic Director/CEO .fielding so rightly says, “The loss of The Complex represents a failure of cultural policy, accountability, and long-term planning within the public system.

Our efforts have also been frustrated by an inflexible landlord, focused exclusively on achieving vacant possession, to maximize the redevelopment value of the site.

This outcome stands in direct contradiction to stated commitments to support Irish arts, cultural employment, and equitable access to cultural life in Dublin.”

We wish Vanessa, all the team and everyone associated with the work of The Complex over the years all the very best as they embark on the next chapter.

For the city we love, and the arts scene it claims to foster, the question is where to next? A question it’s in everyone’s interest to find the answer to, and urgently.

https://www.totallydublin.ie/arts-culture/arts-culture-features/the-outcome-nobody-who-cares-about-this-city-wanted-the-complex-has-closed/

The Complex will close following the failure of Government and Dublin City Council to secure a viable resolution for an arts organization that has operated continuously in the north west inner city for 18 years.

During that time, The Complex developed into a nationally and internationally recognised centre for contemporary Irish arts, supporting hundreds of artists, freelancers, technicians, designers, producers, and staff, and providing sustained cultural infrastructure in an area of the city with limited access to the arts.

Despite prolonged engagement and repeated assurances, no workable solution was delivered. The loss of The Complex represents a failure of cultural policy, accountability, and long-term planning within the public system. 

Our efforts have also been frustrated by an inflexible landlord, focused exclusively on achieving vacant possession, to maximize the redevelopment value of the site.

This outcome stands in direct contradiction to stated commitments to support Irish arts, cultural employment, and equitable access to cultural life in Dublin.

Best wishes,
Vanessa Fielding
Artistic Director/CEO

Some photos by studio member of the rally to last December. Hundreds attended at short notice to deliver a petition which received over 15,000 signatures in less than 2 weeks.

Emergency motion 'to save The Complex' passed by Dublin City Council | Hotpress The Complex received a notice of eviction in December.

❌ GROUNDSWELL ❌

3 nights of music and performance that proved how much the community wants to

Images courtesy: The Complex, .aikins , .7