Works
The Dark Sublime
Barry Falk, Chloe Lelliot and Rich Cutler created The Dark Sublime - which seeks to turn the notion of infinity and beauty within the landscape inwards: instead of transcendence the work plunges the viewer into a Gothic place of ambiguity and uncanniness, a dark abyss. Barry made images amidst the surrounding landscapes of the town of Denbigh, with reference to the history and memory of The North Wales Hospital & Asylum. Chloe explored abandoned slate mines, forming a dark psychological response to the landscape. Rich constructed images in the post-industrial landscape of an abandoned slate mine overlaid by the myth of the White Lady, a Welsh supernatural apparition associated with life and death, water and fire, and treasure.
Parallel Time
In Parallel Time, Paul Walsh and Mitch Karunaratne travelled through Wales but in different time zones. Paul walked across the country following a lost pilgrimage route, recording his encounters above ground and focusing on surface time. Meanwhile, Mitch went underground into some of Wales deepest cave systems. Both were contemplating the continually shifting landscape and its connection to the nature of time. Paul was influenced by the ephemeral existence of things, whilst Mitch was influenced by the landscape’s ability to anchor and give security.
Hiraeth
With Hiraeth (a Welsh word implying a deep longing for home), Aaron Yeandle and Heather Shuker give us a glimpse into a small off-grid community maintaining its connection to the Welsh land. Photographing together, directing and lighting each other’s images, they delved into the forest, capturing the personal environment of three individuals who live in a small caravan and a wooden cabin. The three have a simplistic lifestyle with basic amenities. Their cabin is surrounded by an ethereal woodland. The occupants of this ancient woodland have become one with the landscape.
Chapels & Quarries
Richard Chivers and David Sterry took a historical view of landscape in Chapels & Quarries, focusing on the middle of the 19th century when Wales had become the world’s first industrial nation. It was a time of massive growth for the slate industry, which provided material for roofs across the world. Whole communities sprang up around slate mines and quarries, which dominated the landscape and the economy. Chapels provided a social and religious sanctuary from the harsh and hazardous conditions in the slate works.
