Handala — P e l o l o c a
▻https://peloloca.com/handala
Handala on
Inis Oírr
Aran Islands, Ireland
May, 2026
Handala arrives in Ireland, thanks to the invitation and support of Drop Everything, a small and mighty arts and culture organization based on Inis Oírr, Aran Islands. The sculpture was handbuilt and fired at Potadóir Studios over a short period of 2 weeks in May 2026, incorporating wild clay that was foraged from the grounds of Common Knowledge in County Clare (visible in the mending patch on Handala’s shirt.)
Owing to several unfavorable building conditions during the making of Handala, a foot exploded in the kiln during its firing process. Despite this accident, the form miraculously remained upright without collapse. Handala now stands secured with rebar.
At the time of this writing in May 2026, Gaza reports the highest number of child amputees in the world. Since October 2023, official figures report more than 21,000 children killed in Gaza alone, not including greater Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran.