Fine Art students create English Heritage-commissioned works inspired by Pendennis Castle
20 May 2025
‘Monuments of Anticipation’ is a new short film, publication and exhibition that has been commissioned by the English Heritage in collaboration with Falmouth University. The film focuses on a dynamic Fine Art BA(Hons) challenge posed to 120 first-year Falmouth students: to create site-specific artwork in response to Falmouth’s fortress, Pendennis Castle. Built by Henry VIII to defend against threats that never materialised, the site is rich in history, panoramic views, and broader environmental themes.
Oliver Thomas-Irvine, Lecturer in Fine Art BA(Hons), led a site visit for students to see the historical site to engage with the pressing themes of the ecological and climate crisis.
The students produced a wide array of artworks in response to the site, which varied from performance and participatory practice to site-specific interventions, activist statements, and collaborative works. Every student contributed to the event, whether individually or with peers, pushing the boundaries of how art can address and engage with global concerns.
The project was documented for film by Jack Whitefield, a local artist who captured the process, the site, and the artworks created by the cohort. Now, two copies of the project catalogue can be viewed at the Falmouth Campus library.
Oliver, who led the project, said: “Jack curated an exceptional catalogue and film that documents the event that invited students to respond to the creative prompt ‘Monuments of Anticipation’. The outcome was an extraordinary and bold collection of site-specific works, emotive responses, and poetic interventions. Jack approached the project not merely as a traditional form of documentation but as an editioned artwork of its own right. It truly added a deeper layer of creative integrity and historical significance to the exhibition.”
Rosalind Ann Hodges, a first-year student who worked on the project, said: “It was a great chance to explore site-specific work on a large scale in a dramatic setting; it felt empowering to make an art statement in response to the present environmental issues within the grounds of a prominent English Heritage castle.”
Oliver added: “We want to thank the English Heritage for funding the project and allowing us to host the exhibition at Pendennis Castle.”
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