PORTUGUESE artist Nuno Sousa Vieira is launching his first UK exhibition at Newlyn Art Gallery next month.

Don't Underestimate The Impact Of The Workplace show takes place until May 15.

It marks an important point in his career and that of the seven MA Curatorial Practice students from University College Falmouth who are curating the exhibition.

"Cornwall is such a surprise for me," he said. "It is so beautiful. Now I hope that I can surprise visitors to the gallery. I will interfere with it, change things, doors and windows using materials I will bring with me from my studio in Portugal. I hope that I will be able to make visitors think more about the space and the building itself."

Sousa Vieira was in Cornwall recently to look closely at the gallery spaces at Newlyn Art Gallery.

He has been commissioned by the students to make new work especially for this exhibition.

His studio is in an abandoned factory outside Lisbon where he makes work from the materials left behind by previous occupants giving them a second life as art objects.

This is the second exhibition at Newlyn Art Gallery to be curated by students on the MA Curatorial Practice degree course at University College Falmouth.

"Curatorial practice has become an increasingly diverse, collaborative and creative activity – the dynamic interface between contemporary art and its audiences," says course leader Dr Virginia Button.

The partnership between the Newlyn Art Gallery, Exchange and University College Falmouth offers exceptional opportunities for students.

Gemma Norris from Lelant said: "After finishing my degree, I really thought I would have to move to London to further my studies, but this course offers me even more than I could possibly have hoped for.

"It is just fantastic to work with a gallery like Newlyn Art Gallery, and to be responsible for commissioning new work from an emerging international artist."

For gallery director, James Green, the exhibition is a good example of what Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange are all about. He added: "We aim to bring the very best national and international contemporary art to our visitors, and to support the development of local artists and arts professionals in any way we can. This exhibition does all those things, and we are very proud to be working with Sousa Vieira and the students to bring this exciting show to Cornwall."