Press Releases

This profound work was originally presented in Venice as a series of eight overlapping works, known as ‘Cantos’. Amgueddfa Cymru is delighted to present Cantos IV, V and VI at National Museum Cardiff from 24 May – 7 September 2025, with the tour supported by the British Council and Art Fund.

Akomfrah, who lives and works in London, is renowned for his influence on experimental film and the study of colonial history and racialised identity. This work is no exception. Beautiful imagery is contrasted with painful truths as the pieces weave together narratives of migration, rebellion, activism, discrimination and environmental impact. It pays homage to marginalised voices including the Windrush generation and reflects on pivotal moments in colonial and post-colonial history.   

Each multi-layered piece incorporates newly filmed material alongside archival video footage and still images, weaved together with rhythmic sounds, audio clips and text. This deeply immersive and reflective exploration encourages the act of listening as a form of activism.

Sir John Akomfrah said: 

‘Bringing Listening All Night To The Rain to the UK after its time at the British Pavilion in Venice allows the conversations the work started to continue unfolding. The project's overlapping installations reflect how both personal and collective memories are shaped by histories of migration, displacement and political intervention. My hope is that exhibiting the work in the British context will open up new perspectives on how these narratives evolve across generations and continue to resonate today.’ 

Ruth Cocks, Director, British Council Wales said: 

‘We are so excited to bring John Akomfrah's Listening All Night To The Rain exhibition to Cardiff. This is a significant moment for Wales. After its acclaimed debut at the Venice Biennale, one of the most important platforms for visual arts in the world, it’s an honour to present such a powerful piece at our National Museum and enable new audiences to experience this thought-provoking work for themselves.  The installation offers a narrative that transcends borders, exploring migration, identity, and shared human experiences. By bringing John’s work to our capital city, we hope to encourage the people of Wales to engage with his vision, creativity, and important messages.’

Alongside Listening All Night To The Rain, National Museum Cardiff will also show a selection of work by Welsh artist Sean Edwards that featured in his exhibition Undo Things Done when he represented Wales at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019; 

This new display will reference the artist’s upbringing on a Cardiff council estate in the 1980s, capturing and translating what he calls a condition of ‘not expecting much’ into a shared visual language; one that evokes a way of living familiar to many. Work from Edwards’ Venice Biennale exhibition was acquired by Amgueddfa Cymru for the national collection, and this will be the first time that the work will be presented at National Museum Cardiff.

Amgueddfa Cymru’s Director of Collections and Research, Dr Kath Davies, said:

‘Listening All Night To The Rain is a poignant and deeply reflective piece which draws on events in our shared human histories that have shaped and affect how we see and experience the world. We are honoured that National Museum Cardiff will be the first UK venue and are grateful to the British Council for supporting this tour. We are also pleased to be presenting work that featured in Sean Edwards’s Undo Things Done alongside Sir John Akomfrah’s installation. Having been originally presented at the Venice Biennale, both exhibitions are testament to the calibre of Welsh and British contemporary artists within an international context.’

Tickets for Listening All Night To The Rain (24 May 2025 – 7 September 2025) are free to book. More information is available from John Akomfrah’s Listening All Night to the Rain

ENDS

Notes to Editor 

For further information, contact:

Rachel Bowyer, Communications Lead

rachel.bowyer@museumwales.ac.uk 

Amgueddfa Cymru belongs to everyone and is here for everyone to use. 

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Sir John Akomfrah, born 1957, lives and works in London. He is a founding member of the pioneering Black Audio Film Collective, 1982-1998. Akomfrah's influence on experimental film and the study of colonial history and racialised identity is unparalleled.

Listening All Night To The Rain was commissioned by the British Council for the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, 2024 alongside co-commissioners Lisson Gallery, Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary and Smoking Dogs Films.

All artworks are courtesy of Lisson Gallery and Smoking Dogs Films.

The Commission and UK Tour of ‘Listening All Night To The Rain’ is supported by Art Fund.

Images:

Artist Portrait Images

Credit: © John Akomfrah.  Image by Jack Hems.

Images from Listening All Night To The Rain

 Images should be credited as follows:

© Smoking Dogs Films; Courtesy Smoking Dogs Films and Lisson Gallery. 

Images should be captioned as follows:

John Akomfrah; Listening All Night To The Rain, 2024 (still)

Multi-channel HD video installation with surround sound

Commissioned by the British Council for the 60th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, 2024