Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes, the first international exhibition dedicated to Wales, is coming to Milford Haven.
Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes is an international open competition for 2D and 3D artworks inspired by Wales’ people, landscape, art history, traditions, and contemporary culture. Developed by the Waterfront Gallery in association with the Welsh Government, the exhibition celebrates everything Welsh by gathering paintings, drawings, sculptures, crafts and more.
Now in its second year, Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes has established a strong reputation for championing art about Wales and from Wales. The international competition has been described by artists and visitors as “a signal of the wealth of creativity in the country” and “a celebration of Wales’ land and culture in art”.
Over 1, 150 submissions were sent in by 600 artists living across the United Kingdom and Europe as well as countries as diverse as Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Russia and the United States. All entries were considered by a prestigious panel of judges: artist Basil Beattie RA, painter and emeritus professor Gerda Roper, and sculptor Sebastien Boyesen, who selected a little over 150 pieces for the exhibition.
The shortlisted artworks will be available to view in the Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes exhibition at the Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, from Thursday 12 November to Wednesday 30 December 2020 and at the Gallery@OXO, London, from Thursday 25 February to Sunday 7 March 2021. The opening night at the Waterfront Gallery will be marked by an invitation-only private viewing.
The 2020 Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes exhibition brings together original, diverse, and often unexpected expressions of what makes Wales Welsh. It offers a panorama of the country’s landscapes, including photorealistic depictions and impressionistic evocations, from its snowy mountain tops to its valley villages, from its mining communities to its industrial cities, from its green farmlands to its picturesque coasts. In addition to meditative still life works and vulnerable portraits, today’s socio-political context is equally represented, with crisp depictions of lockdown life as well as a meticulous and satirical Golden Age inspired Basket of Fruit and Vegetables Attacked by Brexit Gremlins.
As part of the exhibition, the following prizes will be awarded:
- Wales Contemporary Prize (overall winner) – £4,000
- 2-Dimensional 1st Prize – £2,000
- 2-Dimensional 2nd Prize – £500
- 3-Dimensional 1st Prize – £2,000
- 3-Dimensional 2nd Prize – £500
- Young Artist Prize (25 and under) – £1,000
- Prize for artists born, educated or resident in Wales – £1,500
- Public choice – £1,500
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(Title Image: Adam De Ville, Sing Dinas Mawddwy)
