Ammeth: Farming in Cornwall

The exhibition explores stories and issues from one of Cornwall’s most important industries. Over 70% of land in the county is farmed and the relationship between farming and the landscape has been a continuing source of inspiration for local artists. This exhibition examines how farming is depicted in historic and contemporary art, reflecting on environmental concerns and celebrating Cornwall’s rich farming tradition and the positive impact of regenerative farming methods and sustainable food production.

I was invited to take part in this exhibition to show work from the ongoing research project Anthology of Rural Life.

This particular output represents a series of works that form a fragment of a substantial photographic record of the surroundings, and activities of two elderly, unmarried brothers who farm in Cornwall.

A.R.L uses ethnography and fieldwork to place the researchers in communities to build understanding of social practices and cultures through flexible, open-ended methods. Visual ethnography helps convey rural contexts, with photographs facilitating discussion or serving as standalone inquiries. A participatory approach fosters collaboration, allowing researchers and participants to co-construct knowledge about rural life. This multidisciplinary method integrates narrative, visual, and contextual research, offering a deep, holistic understanding of rural environments and creating a nuanced portrayal of the subject matter.