January is a month where usually, we're broke, we're tired, and we're bored.

The festive events have all come and gone, it's still freezing out and it kinda seems like there is nothing to look forward to like, ever again. Which is why January is the perfect month to hit up some of the amazing exhibitions that are on in town.

Think about it: you'll be inside in the warmth, you can wander around and look at things at your own pace, and best of all, the exhibitions are either free or very near free. You'll see interesting works of art and photographs to inspire your brain cells into action, plus there is a whole host of insane historical artefacts on show in the city's museums.

The perfect way to spend a wet afternoon, either with a friend or by yourself.

1. The Wild, Project Arts Centre

The Wild is a visual art and drama exhibition that celebrates the memories and visions of Project Arts Centre by 15 artists. 

Expect an exciting rota of work from visual artists, broadcasters and dancers, this will pull you in.

2. Design and Violence, Science Gallery

This is a really cool exhibition that explores the idea of the connection between design and violence. Standout pieces such as environmentally friendly bullets, a wall showing the violence found in language and a virtual-reality simulation, The Weight Of Water, which simulates the night-time boat crossings made by refugees. Hurry, as this finishes on the 22nd.

3. Recovered voices, Collins Barracks

This is the stories of the Irish at War, 1914-15. 

Detailing the stories of 21 Irishmen and women, the exhibition uses original objects and interactive material to show the human impact of the war on their lives.

4. Mother River, Gallery of Photography

This stunning series of colour photographs by Yan Wang Preston documents the entire 6,211km length of the Yangtze river in China, showing modern day changes in the landscape and culture. 

The photographer used a kind of field camera that was used by nineteenth century pioneering explorers, which has interesting results.

5. Hennessy Portrait Prize, National Gallery of Ireland

This is a super display of the pieces submitted by the 14 shortlisted artists in the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016. 

Using a wide variety of different medias, the work on display showcases the very best of portraiture from Irish artists in 2016. A must see.

6. A Fashion Retrospective, Collins Barracks

This is a beautiful display of clothes, fashion photography and illustrations of designs by Danish born Ib Jorgensen. 

From the 1950s to the 1990s,  he was one of Ireland’s leading fashion designers. The exhibition includes several lavishly embellished dresses and is a great day out for any design lover.

7. If ever you go to Dublin town, National Photographic Archive

If ever you go to Dublin town, is an exhibition of photographs by Elinor Wiltshire chronicling Dubliners as they worked, played, shopped and prayed during the 1950s and 1960s. 

The natural photographs show a wonderful insight into Irish life, as you look back and see summer outings on Sandymount Strand and exuberant scenes of All Ireland Football Finals fans at railway stations.

8. Freud Project, IMMA

IMMA Collection: Freud Project features work from one of the greatest realist painters of the 20th century, Lucian Freud. IMMA have a selection of 30 of the artist’s finest paintings, and 20 works on paper. 

The works, mainly dating from 1970 onwards, is intimate and honest, and features subjects that sat for hundreds of hours over multiple sittings. Well worth a visit.

9. Arts of the Book, Chester Beatty Library

Arts of the Book,is a permanent exhibition of almost 600 objects from the Library's collections displays books from the ancient world, including the Egyptian Books of the Dead and beautifully illuminated European manuscripts. 

This is an ideal one to check out coming up to Valentine's, as you can see the world famous Chester Beatty Love Poems (c.1160 BC) <3.

Header image: Halden Prison - Design and Violence

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