Press Releases

Fragile? is the first major contemporary ceramics exhibition at National Museum Cardiff

A major new exhibition showcasing the beauty and diversity of contemporary ceramics will be shown at National Museum Cardiff from 18 April to 4 October 2015. Bringing together contemporary ceramics from the Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and Derek Williams Trust collections, alongside exciting new commissions and significant loans, Fragile? explores ceramics as a vibrant and complex contemporary art medium.

Funded by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and supported by the Derek Williams Trust, Fragile? addresses the diversity and beauty of modern and contemporary ceramic practice in its widest sense. This exhibition which takes place over six galleries in the contemporary art space of National Museum Cardiff will be an inspiring environment to stimulate visitors’ curiosity and encourage debate.

 

Key works from Amgueddfa Cymru’s collection by well-known artists such as Pablo Picasso, Edmund de Waal, Elisabeth Fritsch, Julian Stair and Betty Woodman will be displayed alongside work by leading Wales-based artists today such as Lowri Davies, Adam Buick, Walter Keeler and Claire Curneen. New works by these four ceramicists working in Wales today have been commissioned by the Derek Williams Trust, whose collection is on long-term loan to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. The works are accompanied by documentary films commissioned by the Colwinston Charitable Trust and the selection presents a wide range of contemporary ceramic practice.

 

The exhibition also sees innovative and interactive installations for visitors to directly interact with the art. Fragile?  includes three exciting installations commissioned from major artists Phoebe Cummings, Clare Twomey and Keith Harrison. Two of these installations will invite direct audience participation, extending visitors’ experience of ceramics in new and unexpected ways.

 

For this exhibition, Cummings has explored the possibility for clay to tell a story. Inspired by the great variety of Amgueddfa Cymru’s collections, from botanical specimens to continental porcelain, the artist has designed alternative ‘species’ in a brand new landscape. She has used miniature and full-scale scenes to construct a decorative science-fiction world on-site from raw clay.

 

Clare Twomey’s installation entitled ‘Consciousness/Conscience’ will focus on the creation and destruction of the work itself. By encouraging visitors to walk on one of her art works and therefore placing themselves in the role of activator of the work, visitors will be given the responsibility for the art work’s destruction.

 

Keith Harrison will show ‘Mute’, an installation that is forming part of a post-event response to a previous sound and clay work entitled ‘Bustleholme’. This experience had left the artist with permanent hearing loss but led him to wonder how a PA system would perform if the sound was completely internalized and then gradually exposed through short bursts of play over a long period.

 

There will be a comprehensive formal and informal learning and events programme to coincide with the exhibition including a series of lunchtime talks, tours,  family friendly ceramic workshops and clay making and a new series of late night music events.

 

Andrew Renton, Head of Applied Art, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said:

“This is the most ambitious contemporary ceramics exhibition ever held at National Museum Cardiff. In fact, Wales as a whole has never seen a major contemporary ceramics project on this scale before.

 

“This exhibition builds upon the growing reputation of National Museum Cardiff as a major venue for the presentation and interpretation of contemporary ceramics following on from recent ceramic exhibitions by Edmund de Waal, Elizabeth Fritsch and Julian Stair’s ‘Quietus’.

 

Fragile? is a brand new exhibition that gives a different perspective on contemporary ceramics, asking visitors to engage directly with some of the art displayed in the galleries and perhaps making them think again about ceramics as a major contemporary art form.

 

“Ceramics enthusiasts might be familiar with some of the works that will be displayed in theexhibition but for other visitors it will be something different and unexpected and an opportunity to experience ceramics in new ways. Prepare to be surprised!”

 

National Museum Cardiff’s exhibition and activity programme has been supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

 

Entry to the Museum is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government. 

 

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales: National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Drefach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.  

– Ends –

 

 

Notes to Editors:

 

Amgueddfa Cymru’s collection

 

Amgueddfa Cymru holds one of the world’s major ceramics collections, both historic and contemporary, and including an outstanding collection of European porcelain from the 18th century. There is also a vast collection of pottery and porcelain from Swansea, Llanelli, Nantgarw as well as works by Pablo Picasso and many contemporary makers.

 

 

Derek Williams Trust commissioned Wales-based artists

 

 Adam Buick, who lives and works in Pembrokeshire, will display his work inspired by the coastal landscape. The main focus of his practice is the different expressions of the classic Korean Moon Jar form.

 

Lowri Davies, whose Welsh heritage is her major source of inspiration, has chosen to explore lithophanes – a two dimensional relief plaques which are lit from behind – for this commission.

 

Walter Keeler, who is based in Monmouthshire, questions the use of the tableware, such as a teapot or bowl, and expands this to incorporate decorative embellishment.

 

Claire Curneen, who lives in Cardiff, focuses on the sculptural use of clay and explores themes of saints, angels and mythology through her figures.