To coincide with the latest installment of the Apes film series, public artist Martin Firrell has an exhibition entitled ‘It Ends Here’ underneath Waterloo railway station in London.
Continuing the events of 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn kicks off 10 years later and shows how the apes have advanced incredibly in that short period of time. Humans are dying out, leaving them with the option of fighting the apes or trying to reach some compromises. ‘It Ends Here’ follows the theme of ‘Human Nature and the road to redemption or hell’, and explores the deeper values of the Planet of the Apes series as a whole, “locating truths that cast light on our attempts to live humanely in an over-crowded and tension-filled world”.
On the project, Firrell said, “I have long been interested in popular culture as a potent carrier of important ideas about how to live more humanely. In the case of Apes, what does the idea of human servitude – the human in crisis – tell us about the kind of animal we really are?”
Using the damp and dark environment beneath the railway station, Firrell has created a truly immersive and frightening experience 
that’s sure to put your senses on alert.
Across the rooms, the themes range from abuse and paranoia to brutality, with different sounds, lighting and atmosphere in each setting. The most powerful is the brutality room, creating the feeling of being outside, in the middle of nowhere. When entering the room, you are given a small torch, which you must use to guide you around the foggy area and reveal the theme of the room.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is released on July 17 2014, and stars Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, and Gary Oldman.
It Ends Here by Martin Firrell is open Thursday 10 July – Saturday 12 July, 2014, 4.00 – 10.00pm, Entry Free (unsuitable for children under 12) at The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN. For more information, head to www.martinfirrell.com/itendshere
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