Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery: Trying to Understand Things, Ilya Fisher

 This exhibition runs until 28th February 2026

The room hosting this exhibition is pretty small, but that doesn't matter as the items it holds are generally small but full of exquisite, and tiny, detail.  Looking at photos of the pieces, it's clear that they are beautiful but they become 2D and they lose something.  In person the delicate edition of fine fabrics and embroidery is clear.  These are subtly 3D and it just doesn't photograph well.  Its easy to assume everything is 2D in a photo.  I loved the multimedia aspect.  I liked the colours and the imagery.  The pieces are incredibly delicate and pretty.

This is the surface level though.

The words Ilya choses to add to her pieces make a clear point, which is always good for me!  Ilya asks the question what are we doing about climate change?  Why are we not doing more?  What things are getting in the Way?  It's clear Ilya is trying to understand the issues around climate change and the exhibition as a whole talks of her exploration.  It also talks of her fear.  Its hard to see something clearly coming and be able to do so little .  Why are we doing so little?

The Museum is running two Climate Cafe Listening Circles to coincide with this exhibition and its clear how these connect.  People are invited to go and talk about fears, uncertainties and grief in relation to the unfolding climate and nature crisis.  It's a complicated area and difficult to navigate.

Art can be both beautiful and thought provoking while also helping us to navigate difficulties.  

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