DIGITAL ART INSTALLATION TAKES VISITORS INTO DEVON’S HIDDEN UNDERGROUND WORLD

Paignton Zoo’s immersive experience reveals the secret underground networks connecting one of Britain’s rarest ecosystems.

A ground-breaking digital art installation launches at Paignton Zoo on Thursday 7 August, transporting visitors into a hidden world they could never normally access – the mysterious underground networks of one of the UK’s most precious and fragile ecosystems.

Using an unprecedented fusion of conservation science and digital artistry, DOMHNAIN – a 12-minute immersive multimedia experience – uses cutting-edge technology to reveal the secret life of Clennon Gorge Nature Reserve and its unique biodiversity. This 60-acre protected habitat is built upon limestone bedrock, forming rare geological features such as karst caves and alkaline soil. To preserve this fragile ecosystem, public access is restricted.

Following the extraordinary success of Kew Gardens’ “Of the Oak” exhibition by Marshmallow Laser Feast – which has captivated over 2.5 million annual visitors with its pioneering digital exploration of their 240-year-old Lucombe oak – DOMHNAIN offers a uniquely Southwest perspective on the hidden networks that sustain our ancient woodlands.

^{[PICTURED]: Paignton Zoo’s neighbouring nature reserve at Primley was also home to one of the first Lucombe oaks (the same hybrid species celebrated at Kew) until Storm Kathleen claimed it in 2024.}

For visitors drawn to the intersection of cutting-edge digital art and ecological storytelling, DOMHNAIN provides an intimate alternative to London’s exhibitions, revealing the subterranean mycorrhizal networks that mirror the oak’s role as nature’s “living monument of connection.” Art enthusiasts, conservation advocates, and those seeking immersive experiences that blend scientific discovery with contemplative beauty will find in DOMHNAIN a compelling reason to venture beyond the capital’s offerings to discover Devon’s own celebration of the invisible threads that bind our ecosystems together.

Andy Bowkett, conservation projects and partnerships manager, commented: 

“This installation allows visitors to explore a world they could never otherwise access. It’s a completely new way of experiencing nature – one that reveals the invisible networks sustaining our landscapes through cutting-edge digital art.”

The abstract, hypnotic installation draws direct inspiration from underground mycorrhizal networks – the “wood wide web” of fungal threads that link trees in complex communication systems. Through immersive visuals and ambient soundscapes, DOMHNAIN creates a contemplative space, inviting visitors to experience the hidden connections that sustain our native woodlands.

This innovative collaboration between Paignton Zoo and creative partners NooN Collective, Filament, and English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark represents a first-of-its-kind approach to environmental storytelling, made possible through British Council International Collaboration Grant.

Melanie Border, Co-ordinator for the Geopark, commented:

“DOMHNAIN is a powerful example of how art and science can come together to deepen our connection with the natural world. By revealing the hidden networks beneath Clennon Gorge, this installation invites us to see our Geopark not just as a landscape, but as a living, breathing system of interdependence. It beautifully mirrors the essence of a UNESCO Global Geopark – where geology, the environment, and culture are all interconnected in one continuous story.”

This unique collaboration between artistic practice and conservation education invites visitors to consider their role as stewards of fragile ecosystems where every species exists in mutual dependence.

Clare Parker, co-director for Filament and artist for NooN, commented:

“It has been such a joy and privilege to collaborate with the Paignton Zoo team. Their deep knowledge and care has inspired in us a love for this place.  We hope the work communicates some of the complexity, challenges and joys of what it means to be dwellers and stewards within delicate ecosystems.”  

For Paignton Zoo, the collaboration represents an innovative approach to environmental education that goes far beyond traditional conservation messaging. The installation embodies their mission to connect people with nature through experiences that inspire and amaze. 

DOMHNAIN runs throughout August in Paignton Zoo’s Amphibian Ark, with free entry included in zoo admission. Visitors can enhance their experience with a trail sheet that guides exploration of the publicly accessible sections of Clennon Gorge via the zoo’s Nature Trail. Digital versions are available to download here: Domhnain – Immersive Art Installation Summer 2025 • Paignton Zoo

COVER IMAGE: Stills taken from the projected moving visuals by Emilio Mula | NooN Collective