Catching Copper
Michell’s Engine House, National Trust East Pool Mine
Agar Road, Illogan Highway, Redruth TR15 3ED9th August - 25th September 2025
Catching Copper is a multi-layered exhibition across all floors of Michell’s Engine House. It includes video, sculpture and painting alongside an audio-story that draws upon of memories of the local area.
The exhibition is about personal and societal loss, change, and power.
It asks questions such as:
How do people and places shape who we are?
What do we leave behind—and what do we take with us?
Sovay uses tactile materials and vibrant colour through video, painting and sculpture to create art works that question the distribution of power and explore themes of change and grief. Catching Copper is an exhibition of works that share a very personal connection to place, connecting to the deep Cornish relationship with land through farming and mining.
Sovay says, "I feel shaped by this land, through playing in abandoned mine workings and swimming in rock pools, through sitting in a giant's hand-prints on Carn Brea, and honouring Knockers with my pasty crusts. But I am also shaped by inflexible structures and systems that seek to wield power over all our lives, and which have impacted this area and my family."
"This work is a song of grief and awakening - for me, those close to me, and to Kernow. To shake-off the crushing burdens of those systems and claim the joy and power that is ours."
On view are, cast copper sculptures made with reclaimed material from Sovay's plumbing business, PlumbMaid; watercolour drawings on paper; a single shot video loop; a large wrapped sculpture made with reclaimed cloth from Cornwall Scrapstore; and in the eaves of Michell's an audio narration of the short story Catching Copper. Sovay is hugely grateful to Falmouth University/Falmouth Campus Stores for their support through a part-sponsorship loan of Audio Visual equiptment for the exhibition.
To accompany the exhibition a new performance film, Maylya (2025) made during Sovay's residency at The Dry, East Pool Mine is available for online viewing. Please click the image below to view via Vimeo.
Catching Copper was inspired by a short story, of the same name, written by Sovay in 2023. It is also part of a bigger MESKLA | Brewyon Drudh project, which explores Cornish culture and invites members of the public to join workshops and podcasts.
You can visit Catching Copper during East Pool Mine’s standard opening hours as listed below, and also as part of East Pool Mine’s celebrations of Heritage Open Days (Sept 12th to 21st), when there will be guided walks through the industrial, rural, and social landscapes that inspired the exhibition.
Starting at Michell’s Engine House, intermediate-level walk will take you through key sites of local heritage and personal connection. Along the way, Sovay - who’s family have lived and worked in the area for over 100 years — will share stories, memories, and reflections not found in guidebooks. Booking for the walks is essential and can be done HERE.
Access: The ground leading to Michell’s Engine House is uneven and there is a approximately 8cm high granite step at the entrance. The entrance doorway is narrow appoximately 84cm wide.
Once inside the ground floor of the site is flat, the upper floors are only accessible by open stairways.
There is seating available on 3 of the 4 floors.
For parking and further access guidance please see the East Pool Mine Guide.
Dates, times and entry:
Saturday 9th August
Private View
12pm to 3pm
FREE ENTRY - please RSVP via my Contact Page
Monday 11th to Thursday 14th August
Open Mon-Thurs
11am to 1pm
Standard NT Entry Fee* Booking preferred, slots open Monday 28th July
Monday 18th to Thursday 23rd August
Open Mon-Thurs
11am to 1pm
Standard NT Entry Fee* Booking preferred, slots open Monday 4th August
Monday 25th to Thursday 28th August
Open Mon-Thurs
11am to 1pm
Standard NT Entry Fee* Booking preferred, slots open Monday 11th August
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th September
Open Mon-Thurs
11am to 1pm
Standard NT Entry Fee* Booking preferred, slots open Monday 18th August
Monday 8th to Thursday 11th September
Open Mon-Thurs
11am to 1pm
Standard NT Entry Fee* Booking preferred, slots open Monday 25th August
Saturday 13th September
as part of Heritage Open Days
Guided Walk & Exhibition Tour 10.15 to 2pm
FREE ENTRY - Booking essential, Book HERE
This walk will be with Sovay Berriman who will share personal anecdotes of the area and readings from the Catching Copper short story.
Sunday 14th September
as part of Heritage Open Days
Guided Walk & Exhibition Tour 10.15 to 2pm
FREE ENTRY - Booking essential, Book HERE
Monday 15th to Friday 19th September
as part of Heritage Open Days
Open Mon-Fri
11am to 3pm
FREE ENTRY
Saturday 20th September
as part of Heritage Open Days
Guided Walk & Exhibition Tour 10.15 to 2pm
FREE ENTRY - Booking essential, book HERE
Sunday 21st September
as part of Heritage Open Days
Walk & Exhibition Tour 10.15 to 2pm
FREE ENTRY - Booking essential, book HERE
w/c 22nd September
Open Mon-Thurs
11am to 1pm
Standard NT Entry Fee* Booking preferred, slots open Monday 8th September
*NT Michell’s Engine House Standard Entry fee £5 adults, £2.50 Child
To book for the exhibition or walks, and to view National Trust East Pool Mine general admission prices, see their website.
