New exhibition by acclaimed Wales-based artists to help re-establish independent gallery
An exhibition representing critically acclaimed visual artist, Professor Sue Williams, course director of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Fine Art: Studio Site & Context opens this weekend at one of Cardiff’s most important independent artist spaces, Bay Art. Professor Williams’ work will be exhibited alongside well-known Welsh artist Geraint Ross Evans, a fine art UWTSD Swansea College of Art alumni.
Supported by Cardiff Council, Silent Revolution features work by Professor Williams, a leading voice in contemporary British Art whose raw and powerful paintings stretch across vast canvases and reference Renaissance portraiture, 20th century expressionism, art brut, pop art, and the feminist art movement. Through a combination of re-appropriated mass media imagery and bold, urgent expressionism Professor Williams offers up a searing social commentary that leaves no option but to reconsider our prejudices and preconceived ideas about the world we live in.
Accompanying her paintings is a complex soundscape, developed by the artist in collaboration with Dr David Bird and Dr Marilyn Allen with support from Swansea College of Art UWTSD. Dr Bird’s sonic composition merges with Allen’s dynamic classical vocals, and dialogue between Professor Williams and Dr Allen as they contemplate experiences of contemporary womanhood, creating a multiplicity of converging voices.
Fellow exhibitor Geraint Ross Evans’ work draws on the power of grassroots politics and the grand, all-embracing visions of humanity placed within nature and history, that inspired artists like Diego Rivera and Stanley Spencer, transplanted to everyday 21st century life in South Wales. Through precise charcoal pencil work, Evans’ work playfully stacks up ideas around ‘doughnut economics’, capitalist excess and ecological collapse and transforms them into fairgrounds of invention, before moving on to create something akin to a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ novel through a clinical world of care home monitors, drip stands, and sharps bins - an adventure that, despite the sobriety of its setting manages to reacquaint the viewer with its fundamental humanity.
Creative Director Liam O’Connor said: “We are excited to share this exhibition and open up our gallery fully, sharing the refurbished Bay Art. The space will now again be a crucial artist -led space. We are re-establishing Bay Art as a home for emerging and established artists through its gallery, studio and residency spaces, making it an essential part of the contemporary art scene within Wales and Internationally.”
The exhibition opens to the public this weekend and aims to help re-establish Bay Art as one of Cardiff’s leading grassroots artist spaces.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Cardiff’s creativity is one of its strengths - that is clear in the work of these two incredibly talented Cardiff-based artists - but if we want culture to continue to thrive here it needs to be protected and nurtured.”
“Bay Art is more than just a gallery, it’s also a space where local artists can exchange ideas and produce work as part of wider contemporary art community. Clearly that has intrinsic value but given the right support these small independent spaces can go further, reaching far beyond their walls, attracting visitors, drawing people to live and work in our city, and enriching our economy as well as our lives.”
Silent Revolution is at Bay Art (54B/C Bute Street, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AF) until 17thMarch and is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm.
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071