Cryptopology at The Crypt Gallery

The Crypt Gallery is a London gem on the Euston Road, a slice of the past culture of death, and still the resting place of some souls from the early 1800s. It’s a brick labyrinth with irregular passages, low ceilings and uncertain boundaries. This ghostly and atmospheric space is often used for art exhibitions, sometimes showing work that responds to the space, sometimes not.

Artist Liana Psarologaki has turned off the lights and installed some choice tech so that the audience can just about find their way around while experiencing various sights and sounds. Beams of light and smoke machines add to the feel, while wind from fans and black shadows lurk around corners, producing a sense of fear of the unseen and claustrophobia.

If the venue is unknown to you, Cryptopology makes an extra spooky way to discover The Crypt, but sadly, the exhibition under-exploits the possibilities of the space. It’s a little rich to describe the artwork as “a maze of sensory engagement with an intention to evoke un-patterned feelings and create intimate experiences”. In this case the gallery is the immersive space, not the artwork.

Eleanor MacFarlane
Photo: Liana Psarologaki

Cryptopology is at The Crypt Gallery until 26^th August 2014, for further information visit here.