Buzz Magazine May 2013 | Page 32

art

The Valleys Project, 1985 © David Bailey
THE VALLEYS RE-PRESENTED
Throughout May, Tram Shed, Cardiff Mention“ the valleys” and you tend, these days, to conjure one of two particular sets of images: the first a kind of drunken, vain idiocy – perpetuated by the area’ s eponymous reality show – and the second a stark socio-economic depression, the devastating result of the mine closures. This kind of coverage has been largely detrimental to perceptions of the valleys – blocking, with its simplistic characterisation of the people who live there, more accurate portrayals of valleys life. It’ s a life with an intricate social tapestry, steeped in its very own rich history, but one that is continually smudged by caricature and lazy conjecture. In The Valleys Re-Presented, arts development agency Ffotogallery has compiled a photographic meta-narrative to counter this perception. Works by a stellar collection of contemporary photographers make up the exhibition( Zhao Renhui, Alicia Bruce, Huw Davies, David Barnes, David Bailey, among others), and it is all threaded through with historical and vernacular accounts, presenting the many different facets of life in the valleys. The project began in 1984 and ran until 1990, taking in works about the valleys in many different photographic forms. On show as part of the exhibition is a piece developed by David Bailey in his 1985 visit to the valleys: a breathtaking portfolio of seductive black and white images which reflect an outsider’ s detached sense of bewilderment when faced with the austere geographical and social conditions of the region. There will also be a unique 20x10 billboard hoarding artwork by Wally Waygood, which was commissioned in October 1989 on a site at Dowlais top, Merthyr. The scope and range of the project has spread since its completion, and has become a fantastic, self-perpetuating community project. The works have been shown in a wide variety of venue, and all the( 450 +) photographs made for the Valleys Project are available for loan and research to schools, colleges, community groups and gallery members. In all, The Valleys Re-Presented is a sprawling, fantastically involving exhibition of art-cum-social history, and well worth a visit for anyone interested in either. Admission: free. Info: 029 2034 1667 / www. diffusionfestival. org BILL KNOWLES pic: KARLA BLACK
ANUERIN AND MEIRION JONES
Attic Gallery, Swansea Sat 18 May-Sat 8 June For father and son artists Aneurin and Meirion Jones, painting has always been in the blood. This month they exhibit concurrently at the Attic Gallery with a collection of work which ably displays their similar styles and contemplative meditations on the people and places of South Wales. Aneurin’ s artistic inspiration has largely spilled from his observations and experience of rural life in Wales; each brush stroke seeking to capture the horse fairs, agricultural shows, sheepdog trials and people who inhabit them. As an art student he was drawn to the horses of travelling circuses as they arrived in Swansea. With formative years spent in a rural Welsh setting, he has always gravitated toward those people he has often felt strong empathy with and this becomes obvious in his quietly understated artistic musings. Meirion Jones similarly takes inspiration from the people around him, and by using lighter tones, he captures the light and magic of Swansea Bay, Gower Peninsular and Pembrokeshire coastline. His figurative work includes cockle women in Swansea market and busy cafe scenes as he searches for the magic contained within the everyday bustle of our surroundings. Using the lighter months to people watch and gather ideas, Meirion spends the winter months refining these ideas into some beautifully evocative pieces. Admission: free. Info: 01792 653387 / www. atticgallery. co. uk( GL)
NATHAN WYBURN
Barnabas Arts House, Newport Sun 19 May-Sun 30 June If anyone remembers the 2010 semi-finals of Britain’ s Got Talent, then they’ ll be familiar with Nathan Wyburn. The man famous for creating celebrity portraits and iconic pop culture images out of unlikely items is launching his first full-scale commercial exhibition in Barnabas Arts House. The event goes under the name I Was Always Told Not To Play With My Food. It’ s A Good Thing I’ m Stubborn, a title characteristic of the artist’ s playfulness and bold delivery. At only 23, Wyburn is an accomplished man already, his fine art training has led him to branch out from tradition, using materials like fake tan to toothpaste, soil, candles and newspaper cut outs. His use of food is perhaps more notorious – marmite on toast or ketchup, sugar and chocolate all being used in his pieces. The artist’ s treatment of current cultural issues has earned him praise and notoriety. Wyburn’ s commentary on the impact of over-the-counter celebrity culture is particularly famed. His work seeks to investigate the fragmented personalities created by this celebrity culture in which the 21st century indulges, producing a compelling social commentary on the figures our society places on a pedestal as a result. This show also offers the chance to purchase limited edition prints from this exciting up-andcoming artist. Admission: free. Info: 01633 673739 / www. barnabasartshouse. co. uk( GS)
BORTH
Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Throughout May As part of this month’ s inaugural Diffusion Festival which hits galleries across Cardiff, Gideon Koppel will be showcasing his latest installation BORTH. Following on from the critically-acclaimed Sleep Furiously film which was soundtracked by Aphex Twin in 2009, his latest project focuses on the coastal village of Borth in Ceredigion. Koppel has been deservedly celebrated for his work over the last 10 years, and it’ s no surprise that he has been identified as one of the contributing factors in the resurgence of British art cinema. Part documentary, part fiction, his new installation blurs all film borders to present a sensory dream of the environment in this curious Welsh spot. We find an infinite horizon of the sea crashing against the architecture of the area. The film focuses on the epic landscape on show, but still manages to highlight the intimacy of human gesture, all the while keeping it intact within its surroundings. Although not the most familiar village on the Welsh map, this is not the first time that Borth has served as an artistic inspiration. Smiths frontman Morrissey has stated that the town was the inspiration behind his hit song Everyday Is Like Sunday, taken from his debut solo album. Admission: free. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www. diffusionfestival. org( LM)
KARLA BLACK AND KARIM RUGGABER
Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen Sat 25 May-Sat 13 July Scottish artist Karla Black and Stuttgart-born sculptor Karin Ruggaber’ s latest work arrives as Carmarthen’ s Oriel Myrddin on loan from London’ s Southbank Centre. Black and Ruggaber’ s work explores unconventional sculptural forms, both subtle and obvious. Having been nominated for the Turner Prize in 2011 for her work Doesn’ t Care In Words, Black has forged a reputation for experimental and multi-medium sculptures. Often combining traditional art materials with more domestic and arguably feminine materials such as cosmetics, Black’ s work is fragile yet striking and subverts the concept of sculpture as monumental and enduring. Exploring the fragility of form and the futility of categorisation, Black’ s work is indefinite and resists labelling. Ruggaber too explores sculpting as a medium, creating wall and floor-based sculptures. Drawing inspiration from the urban landscape, and in particular city architecture, Ruggaber’ s work explores and engages with the tactility of surfaces. In addition to plaster, she uses cement and fabric in her work. Her pieces often allude to geometric and cartoon-like shapes. Ruggaber deliberately chooses unpredictable casting processes in order to produce interesting variations and textures in her work. Admission: free. Info: 01267 222775 / www. orielmyrddingallery. co. uk / exhibitions( ED)
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