Press Releases

The five-screen installation, which is being shown as part of the Swansea Festival of Music and The Arts, explores Cale's Welsh heritage - including footage of Garnant, Ammanford - the sunrise is filmed at the house where he was born - and the nearby Black Mountain.

Staged in Venice in an evocative old brewery on the island of Giudecca, the installation takes the form of four episodes in film lasting 46 minutes. It was made in several locations across Wales including Cale's now unoccupied former family home in Garnant with the collaborations of a choir and young orchestral players.

After its debut showing in Venice, this work was exhibited at the MONA FOMA festival in Australia early in 2010 and a live version at the Theater der Welt Festival in Essen Germany.

Speaking about the arrival of Dyddiau Du/Dark Days to Swansea, Head of the National Waterfront Museum, Steph Mastoris said: "We're delighted to be the first venue in Wales to exhibit Cale's internationally acclaimed installation. It will offer a unique experience for our visitors encapsulating industrialisation, visual art as well as a view on Welsh industry, culture and heritage."

Mike Tooby, Director of Learning, Programmes and Development at Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, added: "This piece represents an extraordinary journey for John Cale. Through it he shares with his audiences the way memory and experience helps him come to terms with a kind of return home. By the work joining the national collections at Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, it can continue to be offered in the future, to many others. It will become a shared comparison of personal journeys to and from Wales."

David Alston, Arts Director of Arts Council of Wales said: "As Commissioners of the work for the Venice Biennale, we are now delighted to be working with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales on this presentation of the work in Wales. Cale is an artist with a global resonance. He has made a compelling multi-media work engaging deeply with his personal take on Wales and his inheritance, in stunning and moving images, sound, words and music."

Through the kind generosity of the artist and additional support from the Welsh Assembly Government, it has been possible for the Arts Council of Wales to collaborate with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales to both tour the work and present it to the nation.

Following its showing at the National Waterfront Museum, it will be displayed during the summer of 2011 as part of the opening of the extended new art galleries at National Museum Cardiff.

About John Cale

John Cale, born 9 March 1942, is a Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer and is best known for his work in rock music, but has worked in a variety of styles over the years.

Cale was born in Garnant in the heavily industrial Amman Valley and Welsh is his first language. Having discovered a talent for piano, he studied music at the University of London and travelled to the USA to continue his musical training, thanks to the help and influence of Aaron Copland.

A founding member of the Velvet Underground, Cale is a profile musician, film composer and producer of numerous albums. Cale's career has been one of continuous experimentation, shifting between numerous art forms and avoiding an exact definition for his creative practice.

Dyddiau Du/Dark Days will be on display at the National Waterfront Museum from Friday 8 October to Sunday 7 November. Screenings will take place daily from 10am-4pm.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Marie Szymonski on 01792 683970.

For more information about Arts Council of Wales, contact Sian James, Press & Media Officer on 029 2044 1344.

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales sites is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales.

· National Museum Cardiff

· St Fagans: National History Museum

· National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

· Big Pit: National Coal Museum

· National Wool Museum, Dre-fach

· National Slate Museum, Llanberis

· National Waterfront Museum, Swansea