In the year 1691, an essay titled “The Secret Commonwealth, or an Essay on the Nature and Actions of the Subterranean (and for the most part) Invisible People heretofore going under the names of Fauns and Fairies, or the like, among the Low Country Scots as described by those who have second sight” shed light on captivating aspects of Scottish folklore. Authored by Robert Kirk, this essay delved into the mysterious world of beliefs, stories, and cultural traditions surrounding magical creatures.

We have chosen to use the shortened version of this book’s title as the name for this online exhibition dedicated to the inhabitants of an otherworldly realm, who act as intermediaries between nature and humankind.