56GroupWalesGrwp56Cymru

56GroupWales at Narberth : Exhibition of recent work by the 56GroupWales at OrielQ Queen's Hall Narberth. January 29th - February 27th 2010.

About the 56GroupWales Grwp56Cymru : The first exhibition of the 56GroupWales for 2010 was introduced by the Chair ; Robert Alwyn Hughes at the Queen's Gallery, Oriel Q, Narberth  on Saturday 3oth January.  

  
Peter Spriggs  Robert A Hughes  John Selway  Richard Renshaw  Kevin Sinnott  Sue Hunt
 
" Croeso i'r arddangosfa cyntaf y Grwp56Cymru am a blwyddyn 2010 dwy mil a ddeg. - As its brand name implies the Group was founded in 1956 by a number of professional artists who realised that there were very few opportunities to exhibit contemporary art in Wales at that time. Since then the Group has consistently shown contemporary work throughout Wales, in the rest of the British Isles and Ireland, in Europe and North America.
Today it's membership numbers 22 artists of national and international repute. All making a major contribution to the establishment of contemporary art in Wales and its recognition abroad. The artists featured in this exhibition are all practising professionals and offer to the viewing public examples of recent work, providing an insight into their work content, and in context with their remit. Within the next two years the Group intends to publicise its 'brand' through exhibitions, publications and the media, 

  
Clive Hicks Jenkins   John Selway                                   Carol Hiles

In 2012 the National Museum of Wales is curating an exhibition of the 56GroupWales from its own collection, covering the first 30 years of the Group's inception. The 56GroupWales intends to curate in the same year a major exhibition of its contemporary artists and to publish an historical document of its 56 years existence as the 56GroupWales (1956 - 2012).
The Anniversary will see a major exhibition of work of current members and also the publication of an authorative history of the Group, compiled from the archives of National Museum of Wales. Drawing mainly on previously little seen work in its own collections. Amgueddfa Cymru will also be celebrating the Group's pioneering role in producing and advocating progressive forms of art in Wales in the decades immediately following the end of the Second World War.
Britain emerged from the aftermath of the Second World War into a period of economic and cultural austerity. Neo-Romanticism, firmly established during the isolation of War years continued to dominate in the years that followed. At the point when New York was overtaking Paris as the centre of modern art, many British art institutions and a wider public remained largely unaware or willing to engage with the latest developments in international modernism. For this reason artist groups across Britain were often leading the way in producing, discussing and disseminating modernism to a wider public.

  
Harvey Hood                  Antonia Spowers                      Glyn Jones

In Wales, 56GroupWales was an early and particurly successful example of this model. From the outset their approach was progressive; Eric Malthouse a founder member drafted the Groups first statement and declared that " the effect of environment is deeper and more all-embracing than the fortuitous mimicry of everyday surroundings." In doing so he distanced the Group from more traditional forms of Welsh art that relied exclusively on landscape and place, instead firmly positioning the Group and its members to a more international outlook.
The Group's pioneering background is readily recognised particularly its historic role in moving the visual arts in Wales into modernism. It continues to ensure that Welsh visual art remains relevant in contemporary art movements, not only as a Group but through its individual members and this has been a major feature of its mission to show-case Wales at home and abroad, making a significant contribution to scholarship, education and public awareness"

     
Dilys Jackson                                                             Robert Harding

Images are a selection of works from the exhibition.

Acknowledgments ;   Lynne Crompton, OrielQ Queen's Hall Narberth : Oliver Fairclough NMW : Gareth Davies CASW : David Moore Curator Art Historian. 
Peter Spriggs for their support. 

www.56groupwales-art.co.uk 

                                 

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