The Exhibitionists is a BBC Cymru Wales series, a collaboration with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, followed five individuals with no formal art background as they were set a series of tasks, the first time ever a museum has allowed such extraordinary access to its important art collection for members of the public to handle, discuss, and put on show.
Helping them along the way have been two figures in the Welsh art world. Osi Rhys Osmond is a highly respected Welsh painter and a Senior Lecturer of Art at Swansea Metropolitan University. Karen MacKinnon is Exhibitions Curator at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.
As finalists, Efa Thomas, a musician and Cardiff journalism student originally from Criccieth, and Julia Manser a charity sector worker and keen Swansea City FC follower, were given their own exhibitions in the National Museum's new wing for modern and contemporary art, Gallery 24. Those visiting the gallery were asked to vote for their favorite exhibition. Efa received the most public votes with her theme of destruction and identity.
We really enjoyed the series- a bit of a cross between Masterchef and the Apprentice. The contestants were all very different, coming from a range of backgrounds and ages. In some ways they were all winners, because what was asked of them would have been challenging to those with a knowledge of art and art history. None of the contestants had any art background. We've often thought that the Museum has been rather conservative in its curation, although there are exciting exceptions, such as the bi-annual international Artis Mundi. We'd heard that there are storerooms holding treasures which the public never get to see. Until the recent extensions at the Museum, contemporary collections in my view didn't have a lot of coherence and were displayed in poor light. I found them depressing. But the new exhibition rooms shine great light on older and new work. And when was the last time you saw an exhibition of women's art there? Well, there's one on now!
We were eager to see the exhibition and last Friday on entering the Museum we caught sight of Julia Manser, the runner-up, whose theme for the competition was women. I approached her and told her we'd made a special journey. She'd just given a talk (we didn't know about it) but said she'd do it again just for us. We were given seats by the warden and sat down while Julia warmly and enthusiastically explained the reasons for her choices and gave background to the lives of artists such as Gwen John, Sue Williams, and Siani Rhys Jones, to name a few. She's clearly learnt an enormous amount and enjoyed the whole experience. She brings a fresh, personal and enthusiastic heart and mind to her selection. Her captions are witty and some made me laugh out loud. Not the stuffy way the Museum may do it. Efa's selection is very different-her themes are destruction and identity, with works by Ifor Davies, Iwan Bala and more contemporary, younger, less known artists. She brings the same fresh creativity to her curation. I really hope that the Museum will learn how much more accessible that makes our experience. Because of the tight time scales of the series, there's no catalogue available yet.
We really enjoyed the series- a bit of a cross between Masterchef and the Apprentice. The contestants were all very different, coming from a range of backgrounds and ages. In some ways they were all winners, because what was asked of them would have been challenging to those with a knowledge of art and art history. None of the contestants had any art background. We've often thought that the Museum has been rather conservative in its curation, although there are exciting exceptions, such as the bi-annual international Artis Mundi. We'd heard that there are storerooms holding treasures which the public never get to see. Until the recent extensions at the Museum, contemporary collections in my view didn't have a lot of coherence and were displayed in poor light. I found them depressing. But the new exhibition rooms shine great light on older and new work. And when was the last time you saw an exhibition of women's art there? Well, there's one on now!
We were eager to see the exhibition and last Friday on entering the Museum we caught sight of Julia Manser, the runner-up, whose theme for the competition was women. I approached her and told her we'd made a special journey. She'd just given a talk (we didn't know about it) but said she'd do it again just for us. We were given seats by the warden and sat down while Julia warmly and enthusiastically explained the reasons for her choices and gave background to the lives of artists such as Gwen John, Sue Williams, and Siani Rhys Jones, to name a few. She's clearly learnt an enormous amount and enjoyed the whole experience. She brings a fresh, personal and enthusiastic heart and mind to her selection. Her captions are witty and some made me laugh out loud. Not the stuffy way the Museum may do it. Efa's selection is very different-her themes are destruction and identity, with works by Ifor Davies, Iwan Bala and more contemporary, younger, less known artists. She brings the same fresh creativity to her curation. I really hope that the Museum will learn how much more accessible that makes our experience. Because of the tight time scales of the series, there's no catalogue available yet.
The exhibitions can be seen at the National Museum Cardiff until August 19. Efa is giving a talk about her selection on Tuesday 14th August at 2pm. and the pieces of art can be seen on the Your Paintings website. The series is produced by Gwynedd-based Cwmni Da TV company.
Watch the last episode on iPlayer.
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