This Septic Isle

Tolly Robinson

Between 2010 and 2015 Southern Water illegally dumped sewage into our rivers and sea 6971 times. With human waste flowing into the sea around Brighton regularly, our sewage system has not improved since Victorian times - it has deteriorated.

Using printing techniques that were discovered in the 1800s (whilst Brighton’s first sewers were being built), This Septic Isle features prints that have been developed using the salt type method, using dirty seawater collected from the beaches around Brighton.

Looking at both the private company responsible for our sewage problem and the activists trying to fix it, This Septic Isle explores the UK’s relationship with the sea and how it got so dirty.

Artist biography

Tolly is a documentary photographer based in Brighton. Testing the camera's ability to portray the abstract or the invisible, his work often uses concept and process to convey meaning. His experience as a radio documentary producer allows him to experiment with other media and art forms such as audio which brings freshness and integrity to his work.

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The Regency Town House
13 Brunswick Square
Hove
BN3 1EH
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17–29 October

Tuesday 11:00–18:00
Wednesday 11:00–18:00
Thursday 11:00–18:00
Friday 11:00–18:00
Saturday 11:00–18:00
Sunday 11:00–18:00

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This Septic Isle
Tolly Robinson

Marnie, an activist at the Brighton COP26 protest. Marnie cleans Brighton’s beaches voluntarily. (Cyanotype on paper)

Underwater #1 (Cyanotype on canvas)

Andrew, an activist with Surfers Against Sewage (Cyanotype on paper)

Lee, an activist from South Coast Sirens (Cyanotype on paper)

A sea swimmer enters the sea on Hove beach in the Spring (Cyanotype on paper)

Maddy warms up before swimming off Hove beach in the Winter (Cyanotype on paper)

Maddy, a sea swimmer shortly after getting out of the sea in Spring. “I swim multiple times a week. It makes me feel insignificant in a good way- and leaves ne wutg a sense of elation. (Cyanotype on paper)

Southern Water Portobello pumping facility in Peacehaven (Argyrotype on paper)

The beach beneath Portobello shortly after a storm (Salt type on paper)

Hours after a sewage outflow, sea foam is washed up at Rottingdean beach at the foot of the Portobello pipe (the maritime marker for which can be seen in the background) (Argyrotype on paper)

A sanitary towel. Collected on 1st August 2021 from Rottingdean beach, No. of periods of heavy rainfall in previous 7 days: Nil (Salt type on paper) 12: A h

A handwipe. Collected on 1st August 2021 from Rottingdean beach, No. of periods of heavy rainfall in previous 7 days: Nil (Salt type on paper)

A tampon. Collected on 1st August 2021 from Rottingdean beach, No. of periods of heavy rainfall in previous 7 days: Nil (Salt type on paper)

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