Call OUt:
Nine Fathom Deep – Opening Exhibition
Exhibition date: February 2026
“…And some in dreams assured were
Of the spirit that plagued us so;
Nine fathom deep he had followed us
From the land of mist and snow.”
Nine fathoms take us to an in-between location – neither close to the ocean’s surface, nor in its lightless depths, but rather in the murky shallows, where sediment rises through filtered light and mixing currents. As a name, it becomes a metaphoric description of the gallery as a site of creativity, inquiry and encounter.
An opening exhibition presents a unique opportunity to reflect on the origins of our name. Conceived as a group show, this inaugural exhibition will combine both gallery sourced works and artist submissions. Selected works will be curated as conversations across media and styles of expression, reflecting the breadth of practice we intend to feature within our future exhibition programme.
The phrase ‘nine fathom deep’ originates from Samuel T. Coleridge’s 1798 poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a ballad rich in gothic imagery and colourful, painterly detail. Set in the context of exploration and the Southern Hemisphere, its narrative alludes to wider cultural, ecological and philosophical interpretations.
Nine Fathom Deep is inviting artists to contribute to our opening exhibition. We will select from all mediums of work, with an emphasis on conceptual making. We ask artists to interpret the poem’s wide range of references and present them in a contemporary context. The connection of work submitted and kaupapa of the exhibition should be evident within the proposal.
Proposals should include:
- The title of proposed work(s),
- A detailed description and images of the proposed work(s),
- Previous artworks representative of the artist’s practice (website links etc.)
- An artist’s bio
- Any other relevant supporting materials
The gallery will provide the opportunity to sell works on commission, the details of which will be outlined within a gallery contract. Artists not intending to sell work should indicate this within the proposal.
Please email your proposal to: gallery@ninefathomdeep.co.nz
Submission deadline: 15 September 2025
Selections by: Mid October 2025
Link to poem: The Poetry Foundation