One of the world’s most prestigious art exhibitions has just opened- and Tŷ Pawb is playing a lead role in getting Welsh art involved!
La Biennale takes place in Venice every two years. Established in 1895, the Biennale has an attendance today of over 500,000 visitors across its main sites.
Wales in Venice has been a part of this key marker in the art world calendar since 2003. It’s a chance to present the most significant and timely artists associated with Wales to an international audience.
Tŷ Pawb works with leading Welsh artist
Last year, we announced the exciting news that Tŷ Pawb had been chosen as the Lead Organisation for Wales in Venice 2019.
Sean Edwards is representing Wales in Venice this year. His presentation at La Biennale is led by Tŷ Pawb, working with international curator, Marie-Anne McQuay.
Sean’s exhibition, Undo Things Done, is his most ambitious and emotionally resonant to date; a poetic enquiry into place, politics and class intertwined with personal histories.
Sean’s presentation also features a radio play, Refrain, co-produced with National Theatre Wales. It is performed daily by Sean’s mother and broadcast live from her home in Cardiff into Sean’s exhibition at the Venice Biennale.
Refrain will also be presented as a Wales wide radio project in November by National Theatre Wales and Tŷ Pawb in the final month of the Biennale.
‘A first for Wrexham’
Tŷ Pawb’s involvement with Wales in Venice is a first for Wrexham and presents a unique opportunity to become established internationally as a centre of excellence for the Arts.
As Lead Organisation, we are also delighted that Sean’s exhibition will be coming here to Wrexham in 2020 – the first presentation in Wales and the wider UK. This will be another huge step in helping to put Tŷ Pawb and Wrexham on the international arts map.
Jo Marsh, Arts Lead for Wrexham County Borough Council and Creative Director for Tŷ Pawb said: “It is a huge honour for Tŷ Pawb to be selected as Lead Organisation for Wales in Venice 2019, this is a fantastic opportunity for the organisation and for Wrexham.
“Through working with Sean Edwards and Marie-Anne McQuay on this outstanding project, we will be flying the flag for Welsh arts, and bringing an international limelight to Wrexham and Tŷ Pawb.
“As lead organisation Tŷ Pawb will have the chance to shape the delivery of both the exhibition and public programme, keeping our ethos of inclusivity at heart.”
International recognition for Tŷ Pawb
Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, Cllr Hugh Jones, said: “To be raising the international profile of Tŷ Pawb so recently after opening is extremely significant, setting out our stall at such a prestigious event as the Venice Biennale.
“On behalf of the whole of Wrexham I would like to congratulate Sean Edwards on his stunning and moving solo exhibition for Wales in Venice. We are all looking forward to bringing his work back to Wales to be shown at Tŷ Pawb in 2020.”
Sean Edwards’ Wales in Venice presentation will be on show at La Biennale from May 11 – November 24 2019. It’s already attracting lots of coverage in the international press. Definitely one to look out for over the coming months!
You can follow Wales in Venice on social media to keep up to date with the day-to-day happenings from the exhibition:
Wales in Venice 2019 is commissioned by Arts Council Wales and delivered by Lead Organisation Tŷ Pawb with guest Exhibition Director Marie-Anne McQuay and Assistant Curator Louise Hobson.
