Reconnect with the Cornish landscape through Natalie Day’s powerful debut exhibition

  • Discover the evocative and moving exhibition This Land from Cornish artist Natalie Day

  • As Earth Day approaches - explore paintings about the land, made of the land

  • Find the exhibition at the Philbrick Room, Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro

  • Running from 4 April – 24 June 2023

A powerful debut exhibition from Cornish artist Natalie Day has been unveiled this week at the Royal Cornwall Museum, showcasing a series of paintings about the land, made of the land and exploring themes of connection.

This Land tells the story of the artist's journey and return to Cornwall, exploring the idea of reconnecting with the land and coming full circle. Natalie’s work, unveiled as Earth Day approaches later in April, explores the use of natural pigments and paints made from the Earth – truly bringing the roots of Cornwall itself into the work she produces.

The exhibition – which has found a perfect setting in the museum’s Philbrick Room, surrounded by the extensive geology collection from the Royal Institute of Cornwall – opened to the public on 4 April and runs until 24 June 2023.

Cornwall is rich in mining and ritualistic history and the rural landscape of the Duchy has led Natalie to investigate and contemplate what is above and below ground, the human impact on nature, and our place in this world.

Natalie said: “Undertaking these pieces reconnected me to much forgotten knowledge of working with the land and created a symbiotic relationship with natural resources, respectful and harmonious.

“I am truly drawn to these landscapes, scattered with the remnants of lost communities and a memory of what was. I can immerse myself in the moment of being, contemplating the history of this land, and wondering of its future. “

She added: “The ancient ritualistic sites are still standing long after their domestic counterparts have fallen, some preserved and protected but others left to fend for themselves. They still hold a magical appeal to many who are drawn here to try to understand our ancestral wisdom and I hope visitors to the exhibition will feel this power in my work.

Bryony Robins, creative director at the Royal Cornwall Museum, said: “We are delighted to exhibit Natalie’s work at Royal Cornwall Museum. Not only is the work of exceptional quality, it speaks directly to the things that are important to the museum - about this unique land we call Cornwall, the very earth and minerals beneath our feet, our heritage landscape and the imagination and ingenuity that fuels Cornish creativity. It is an absolute privilege to show such exceptional work by an artist from Cornwall.”

Paintings, film and writing will connect the audience to the landscape through Natalie’s observations and processes, enabling them to experience her perception of the land and inviting them to contemplate their own feelings and thoughts about these ancient lands.

A programme of workshops facilitated by Natalie and Meet the Artist events will run throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Jamie MacDonald-Murray, chair of Lisarb Energy - the corporate sponsor of the exhibition - said: “Born in the South West myself, I was drawn to Natalie’s journey and her connection with the same natural environment in which I grew up, and in which I founded Lisarb. Natalie’s work echoes Lisarb’s own ethos. We harness the power of rugged land and seascapes with respect, while better understanding the cultural and commercial relationship between the earth below and our activities above.”

‘This Land’ will be in The Philbrick Room, Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro. The exhibition opens to the public on Tuesday 4th April 2023 and closes Saturday 24th June 2023.

In addition to sponsorship from Lisarb Energy - a fast-growing global renewable energy developer - additional funding towards workshops has been kindly provided by FEAST in partnership with Arts Council England and Cornwall Council.

Natalie also worked closely with Kate Reeve-Edwards of Cultural Capital Arts in putting the exhibition together.

 For more information about the exhibition, and to book a visit to the Museum:

https://www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk/exhibition/this-land

 

 

Lauren Webb