Sunday 4 April 2010

The State of the Art - Artes Mundi 04 - National Museum Cardiff

Arriving at the Museum at 4.00pm I haven't yet had time to enjoy the whole exhibition so far. However, the quality of the 3 pieces I have so far encountered ensures that I will return to complete the collection.

Artes Mundi 4 is the latest of the UK's largest Art exhibition prize featuring 8 emerging artists from around the world who discuss the human condition. Entering the first room you are immediately surrounded by the work of Peruvian Fernando Bryce. His Weltkarte Kopie and Die Welt are a collection of Indian Ink drawings relating to events from the mid to late 19th century
to show how visual and written media records represent these historical occurences. An unusual
and interesting piece.

A further room takes you to Israeli Yael Bartana whose film Mary Koszmary invites the souls of the 3 million Jews who died in the second world war to return to Poland and help the country move forward and become a modern European country. This message is strengthened by two piles of impressive help-yourself posters containing the same theme in manifest form. At nearly eleven minutes long this is a time-consuming exhibition but as I was totally engulfed and moved by the concept I would recommend everyone to make the full commitment of time and emotional energy in such a thought-provoking piece. One tip though to avoid spending that time standing up listening on headphones go around the corner to watch it in comfort from some much-needed seats.

Another room further and a film from Bulgarian Ergin Cavusoglu. At first sight this is a gentle recording of a boatman transporting a tree to a small rock denoting the Israeli flag. However, it is attempting to explore the wider, relevant issues of mobility and migration today. Very watchable but for me not as involving as the previous two pieces.

With the gallery closing around me I shall have to make a further journey to investigate the four remaining exhibitions. If they match the quality, diversity and interest of the opening three pieces I shall be impressed.

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