Wales Arts Review spotlights some of the artists who will be featured in a new exhibition, Dynevor-Never-Land, at the Elysium Gallery. The exhibition celebrates Swansea College of Art’s 200-year anniversary and will include works from former students of University of Wales Trinity St David’s.
Dr Jason Cartwright and Dr Becky Williams
Collaborative Swansea-based artists Jason and Becky both graduated from UWTSD with first class Fine Art degrees in 2013, before going on to obtain Masters and PhDs to boot. Working together over the past ten years, their artistic interests have included an exploration of both physical and digital societies and immersive, audio-visual methods. Their installation, ‘The Message’, is in an audiovisual format which beckons participants into a dynamic world of “of organic connections related to the ‘Wow Signal’ first discovered in 1977”. The installation works by merging original audio from SETI with manipulated versions of the same sounds. Exploring “Ian Beardley’s subjective interpretations of mathematics related to the radio frequencies discovered in 1977 and ponders our reliance and belief in scientific data in relation to our multi-platform existences”.
Philip Cheater
The work of Philip Cheater explores the worlds of architecture and industry, asking questions about everyday life and playing with the way perceptions alter our view of our surroundings. His new series plays with ideas related to power and control and the structures which uphold them, playing with the concept of “power being taken away and seemingly indestructible structures breaking down”. By dealing with objects found in mundane and everyday encounters, Cheater attempts to “reintegrate” the subject within a landscape that is uncanny or unfamiliar – “developing immersive installations and objects that appear to hold a function through the use of industrial materials and processes”.
Mandy Lane
The artistic practice of Mandy Lane is focussed on the topics of identity, personal history, navigating the world as a woman and what it’s like working in a deprived area of Llanelli. Talking about her artistic journey, Lane said: “I graduated in 2016 and had a bit of a turbulent year. I moved from Carmarthen campus down to Swansea. I was introduced to an incredibly diverse and rich visiting lecturer program which offered tutorials that became integral to my work. In addition, access to artists such as Sue Williams played a huge role in my Practice and the way I navigated the art world. Since graduating I currently lecture on the sculpture program at Carmarthen School of art and have recently been accepted at the Royal College of Art.”
Daniel Trivedy
The work of artist Daniel Trivedy will also be a featured as a part of the Dynevor-Never-Land exhibition. Trivedy speaks highly of his time spent at the Swansea College of Art, dubbing it “transformational”. Speaking of his work and contribution to the exhibition, Trivedy said: “When asked to contribute to an exhibition that referenced 200 years of UWTSD my immediate thought was to consider what else was happening in the world over that same period. In particular, as a person of Indian origin I was wanted to look at aspects of colonisation and empire. One of the reasons why I find contemporary art so engaging, is because of its ability to engage with marginalised histories and that which is typically overlooked. Unfortunately, there is quite a lot of amnesia when it comes to the British empire, especially the negative aspects.”
Tomos Sparnon
Neath-born artist Tomos Sparnon is 25-years old, and graduated in 2018 with a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art from Swansea College of Art. Sparnon spoke on his experience at the university, saying: “I was taught by amazing, inspiring lecturers, and I had the opportunity to work alongside talented and hardworking students. During my time at Swansea College of Art, my practice was continuously pushed and encouraged, and as a result, my artwork developed and matured […] Since graduating, I have been working as an independent artist, continuing to develop my practice. For this exhibition, I will be exhibiting a new sculptural work made in response to recent political, geographical and everyday tensions and conflicts. In the sculpture, I have used a passage from the Bible as reference to question ideas of progress, authority and motive.”
This exhibition will run from 24th September – 5th November at Swansea’s Elysium Gallery. Find out more about the Dynevor-Never-Land exhibition here.
