IWAN BALA
HEL MEDDYLIAU
17|04 - 17|05|26

[English below]

•

TEN is proud to present a major solo exhibition by Iwan Bala, one of Cymru’s most influential and respected contemporary artists, as he celebrates his 70th birthday

A pivotal figure in the exploration of cultural identity and the cultural cartography of Cymru, Bala’s work offers a visceral, intellectual journey through the landscapes of memory, language, and heritage. His practice is a masterclass in duality; his pieces are simultaneously politically charged and deeply personal, spanning the monumental and the ancient while remaining firmly rooted in the contemporary present

This exhibition of new and recent work showcases the enduring themes that define Bala’s career - most notably the preservation, evolution and decolonisation of Welsh culture. In these works, language [Cymraeg, English, Catalan] is nearly always present. Fragments of poetry, prose, and words woven into the Welsh subconscious act as anchors, supporting the message and context of hisimagery. Bala’s engagement with the political landscape is an unflinching, reoccurring theme - his views are clear and unquestionable, often placing political leaders and global injustices in his satirical line of fire

The collection breathes with repeated motifs from Welsh lore. Present are symbolic archetypes such as Y Fari Lwyd and Tafod y Ddraig [The Dragon’s Tongue]; elements from the Mabinogi, including Ysbadadden and Pair y Dadeni [The Cauldron of Rebirth].Bala’s iconic topographical maps, where the shape of Cymru takes on a female form has been a constant presence in his work over the years. A mother, sister, lover - this intimate blending of person and place encapsulates Bala’s relationship with his country - his art practice is one deep, vast love letter to Cymru

Renowned for a deeply symbolic style, Bala seamlessly blends drawing, painting, and collage. He works on handmade cotton Indian Khadi paper, a surface tactile and tough, capable of withstanding heavy mark-making and the layers of ink and paint. His choice of medium has taken on a further, serendipitous layer of meaning after Bala recently learnt that cotton was worn in 19th and 20th Century India as a deliberate anti-English act of resistance. Bala’s work has always echoed the sentiment - now confirmed as the base carrier for his art

Iwan Bala’s work serves as a vital bridge between a rich, historical past and a complex modern present. It is, in every sense, a celebration of Cymru’s land, language, and legend - and this exhibition celebrates the artist and his enormous contribution to the culture of his country

‘Mae teitl yr arddangosfa yn cyfleu rhywbeth o’r ffordd dwi’n gweithio. Mae rhai darnau wedi eu ail-weithio ar ben hen luniau. Gwelir dyddiad y  gwaith gwreiddiol, a dyddiad y darn newydd fel ‘palimpsest’ ar ei ôl. Mae y ffurfiau oedd yno gynt unai wedi llwyr ddiflanu, neu maent yn gadael olion sydd yn cyfleu syniadau tuag at y gwaith newydd. Byddaf yn dechrau ar ddarlun heb wybod yn iawn beth fydd yn ymddangos ar ddiwedd y broses, ond mae marciau ar y papur yn cyfeirio fy meddyliau

Mae’r broses yn gyfuniad o ddau beth yn gweithio yn fy mhen yr un pryd. Y ddelwedd yn ffurfiol; cyd-bwysedd, lliw a marciau, ac yr hel meddyliau tra yn gweithio ac edrych ar y gwaith mewn seibiant. Hyn sydd yn rhoi ystur a neges i’r darlun. Mae’r meddyliau hyn yn dod o gefndir eang o ‘gyfeiriadau’; mytholeg, llefydd yn y côf, rhywbeth dwi wedi ddarllen neu weld, hanes, a gwleidyddiaeth y byd yn ei bresennol bregus. Ymdrech at ddad-goloneiddio fydde yn ddisgrifiad eitha cynhwysfawr o fy ngwaith

•

The title of the exhibition conveys something of the way I work. Some pieces have been reworked on top of old work. The date of the original work, and the date of the new piece can be seen as a 'palimpsest' after it. The forms that were there before have either completely disappeared, or they leave traces that convey ideas towards the new work. I will start a drawing not really knowing what will appear at the end of the process, but marks on the paper guide my thoughts

The process is a combination of two things working in my head at the same time. The image is formal; balance, color and marks, and the gathering of thoughts while working and looking at the work in a break. This is what gives the picture its meaning and message. These thoughts come from a wide background of 'references'; mythology, places in memory, something I've read or seen, history, and world politics in its fragile present. An effort to decolonize would be a fairly comprehensive description of my work’ - Iwan Bala

Iwan Bala has been a cornerstone of the Welsh art scene for over five decades. An established writer, lecturer, and artist, he was a founding member of the Beca group and has consistently advocated for an art that is "of the place" but global in its relevance. Bala has exhibited widely, with works in private and numerous public collections including the National Museum of Wales [The Derek Williams Collection], Contemporary Art Society for Wales and The National Library of Wales. He has published books and essays on contemporary art in Cymru and is a frequent lecturer on the subject

He studied geography and politics at the University of Aberystwyth from 1974, then from 1975 until 1977 he studied fine art at Cardiff College of Art. He gained an MA in Fine Art from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff in 1993. From 2007 to 2015 Bala was senior lecturer at the School of Creative Arts and Humanities at University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen

Bala creates his art-work using memorised and imagined maps and landscapes, commenting on Welsh culture. He has won many prizes including the Gold Medal in Fine Art at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1997 (and a prize winner in 1988, 1989 and 1993). He won the Glyndŵr Award in 1998, for outstanding contributions to the arts in Wales

Artworks can be purchased online or by contacting the gallery:

info@gallery-ten.co.uk  |  029 2060 0495

Ein Celf • Own Art

Own Art is a national initiative providing interest-free credit for the purchase of original artwork. The purchase is split over 10 interest-free instalments, with no deposit, up to £2500.

To purchase an artwork through Own Art contact the gallery to be sent an online form: info@gallery-ten.co.uk  |  029 2060 0495

VAT Prices stated on this website are exclusive of VAT Margin (8.3%). VAT is added at checkout if applicable.

info@gallery-ten.co.uk
+44 (0) 29 2060 0495

Wednesday - Saturday 10:30 - 17:00
The Coach House, Rear of 143 Donald Street, Cardiff, CF24 4TP