Subterrania at Newlyn Art Gallery

One of the central themes in Crisp's work is the gap between physical experience and visual perception.

A specially commissioned solo exhibition by British artist Fiona Crisp begins at Newlyn Art Gallery.

Large scale photographic works, explore a series of very different underground worlds including Cornwall's very own Geevor Tin Mine.

Crisp's compelling images are selected from a series of works developed over the last seven years.

These works will be exhibited at Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall from 13 February through to 17 April 2010.

One of the key series of images in Subterrania was created in collaboration with Geevor Tin Mine, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, near St Just.

I am indebted to Pendeen Community Heritage for allowing me access to the modern workings of Geevor Tin Mine and to Bill Lakin in particular for his knowledge, expertise and patience in helping me with the project there Artist, Fiona Crisp

The other images in the exhibition were made at various European locations, including Early Christian catacombs in Rome, a lead mining museum in County Durham and a Second World War underground hospital in Guernsey.

The show also includes two works recently made at a potash mine in Boulby on the North Yorkshire/Cleveland coast.

At over 1km deep, Boulby is the UK's deepest working mine but it also houses a laboratory dedicated to the search for dark matter, an invisible and elusive substance that is believed by astronomers to hold galaxies together.

The disparate locations for these images were chosen by Crisp both for the sense of physical power they evoke, and the fact that their original purpose has changed.

Now opened up to very different users, they bring into question the complex relationships between heritage and tourism, science and history.

Crisp explores the relationship between photography and architectural space

The artist says, "I was delighted when commissioned by Newlyn Art Gallery to extend the body of work that makes up Subterrania by making a new cycle of images here in Cornwall.

"There are several parallels between the tin mining industry in this region and the lead mining industry in County Durham and Northumberland where I had already been making images, especially in terms of the relationships between history, heritage and economic regeneration.

"I am indebted to Pendeen Community Heritage for allowing me access to the modern workings of Geevor Tin Mine and to Bill Lakin in particular for his knowledge, expertise and patience in helping me with the project there.

James Green, Director of Newlyn Art Gallery says, "Fiona Crisp's work and her themes are particularly resonant here in the South West and it has been extremely enjoyable for us to be collaborating with Geevor Tin Mine."

Essential Information

Subterrania runs at Newlyn Art Gallery from Saturday 13 February to Saturday 17 April 2010.

There will also be a series of talks and activities based around the exhibition.

Talks are as follows:

Fiona Crisp with Daro Montag on Friday 19 March 7.30pm, (pay bar from 7pm.) Don't miss this free chance to hear Fiona Crisp, in conversation with Daro Montag, MA Course Leader at University College Falmouth. They will discuss the thinking behind her choice of locations and fascination with underground spaces, as well as the processes behind the making of the work for Subterrania. You are invited to join in the question and answer session afterwards.

Bill Lakin talks about Geevor Tin Mine on Saturday 20 February 12pm. Bill Lakin, Chair of Pendeen Community Heritage, will talk about the history of Geevor Tin Mine and its future as a heritage site as a free option for visitors/guests.