Underground book rises above the competition

The associate head of Massey University’s School of Fine Arts has won a major award for his book of underground photographs.

Associate Professor Wayne Barrar’s book An Expanding Subterra, published in association with Dunedin Public Art Gallery, was awarded the top prize in the exhibition catalogue section of the Museums Australia: Multimedia & Publication Design Awards. These awards celebrate excellence in design and communication in the museum and collections sector across Australasia.

Dr Barrar’s work was first showcased as a gallery exhibition before being published as a book and includes photographs of underground environments from the mines of Coober Pedy, to a nuclear waste repository, hydro stations in New Zealand and Australia, tunnels excavated by New Zealand troops in the First World War and even an underground university.

Judges commented that the book was “beautifully produced complete with French-fold dust jacket, well-considered grid layout of typography and images”.

Head of the School of Fine Arts Associate Professor Heather Galbraith says the award is more than just recognition for Dr Barrar.

“This is a very significant achievement, enabled through a great partnership between a public gallery and College of Creative Arts research support.”