White Scars examines the lasting marks left by chalk extraction on the Isle of Wight, revealing how this industry shaped the landscape and environment. Previous open-pit quarrying has destroyed ecosystems and left visible scars within the island’s geology, bearing visible traces of extraction. This project investigates the enduring imprints of chalk extraction, looking into themes of transformation and failure in Cheverton.

Cheverton, located in the southwest of the Isle of Wight, possesses a rich geological and industrial heritage; it is unique and chosen as the site for the project as it is home to two chalk quarries, one still in use and another retired. An early objective of this project was to capture the physical and symbolic marks of chalk extraction, exploring how it continues to transform the Isle of Wight’s identity and environment. Cheverton is emblematic of these conditions and thus became the site for my investigation.

I printed analogue photographic images onto chalk tiles sourced from the island using experimental photographic techniques to explore the image’s materiality. This process, full of imperfections and flaws, mirrors the damage left by quarrying and highlights the themes of failure and transformation whilst also attempting to capture the materiality of the image. Chalk, a material known for preserving fossils, is both a witness to ancient history and a symbol of the modern impact of industry. Furthermore, reducing the time the chalk was submerged in a photochemical fixer means the images on the chalk tiles slowly fade and disappear completely over time. This performative gesture speaks to the nature of the quarry enacting its own extraction.