Pic: Artur Vogt

East London gallery theprintspace welcomed top city photographers to the packed opening night of its ‘Underground’ themed exhibition on Thursday, featuring work from artists Dylan Thomas, David Solomons and Gesche Wuerfel.

theprintspace gallery’s exhibition focuses on images that were captured underground, from basements and cellars to the labyrinths of the London transit network.

Curator Christine Santa Ana said: “I’ve had this idea of doing this underground theme. It’s a real mixture of work and I’m really pleased with it.”

New York photographer and Goldsmiths alumni Gesche Wurfel showed photos from a body of work entitled ‘Basement Sanctuaries’, exploring how building superintendents in Manhattan’s north side decorate their living spaces in the basements of apartment buildings.

Mattia Bernini, a 23-year-old interaction design student who came to the opening, said: “Wurfel uses a nice colour combination, it’s subtle. I quite like the dynamics of her work.”

London photographer Dylan Thomas presented images from his series ‘Crash’, which depict ordinary inanimate objects in unfamiliar spaces.

Thomas told EastLondonLines that his inspiration came from a childhood misfortune, saying: “When I was a little boy, I fell into one of these spaces that haunted and traumatized me. As a consequence I came up with this collection.”

“The objects I photographed can be found all over London. And the spaces all have a specific function. I can’t say more. I have to keep a secret to allow the imagination to do the work.”

Street photographer David Solomons’ exhibited excerpts from his own ‘Underground’ series, taken on the Tube. Shot over a period of three months, between 1994 and 1995, the pictures use a flash to produce stark colours and illuminate the dark interiors of the ancient urban network.

Art lover Katya Trubilova, 29, who works in sales, said: “I think it’s a very good idea to take picture on the tube, and photograph different faces. I admire this. It’s very hard to be creative in our society.”

The opening night attracted a diverse audience, from students through designers to passers by. Artur Vogt, the gallery’s marketing executive and organiser, expected some 300 or 400 people at the opening night. He said: “We are trying to keep up the reputation of the gallery by coming up with unique ideas and big exhibitions.”

The exhibition is open on weekdays between 9am and 7pm. It runs from March 2 to March 21 at theprintspace gallery, 74 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DL.