We Have The Mirrors, We Have The Plans by Axis Graphic Design

We Have The Mirrors, We Have The Plans Gennym Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau

5. Fool’s Gold he Idea of Magic as Science

7. Here Comes the Sun he Idea of a Sun-Centred Universe

9. Cogito Ergo Sum he Idea That Individual Existence is Verifiable

131. Class Struggle The Idea of Historical Dialectic

104. Brotherhood of Man The Idea of Human Unity

rity

ority

141. Master Morality The Idea that Might is Right

144. Inferior by Nature The Idea of Scientific Racism

109. Tight Money The Idea of Mercantilism

145. Tooth and Claw The Idea of Natural Selection

110. Laissez-Faire The Idea of the Free Market

112. Neverland The Utopian Idea 113. Getting Better The Idea of Progress

148. Calculating Machine The Idea of Artificial Intelligence

114. Cleansing the Temple The Idea of Anticlericalism

149. Master Race The Idea of German Superiority

17. We, The People he Idea of Representative Democracy 118. Nation in Arms The Idea of The Citizen-Warrior

120. Promontory of Asia The Idea of Europe 121. The Second Sex The Idea of Feminism 122. Many Mouths The Idea of Overpopulation

125. Reality Unveiled The Idea of Abstraction

26. Perfect Harmony he Idea of Classical Principles in Art

1400 AD

123. If It Ain’t Broke The Conservative Idea

Cecile Johnson Soliz

Heather and Ivan Morison David Nash Magali Nougarède

174. Intelligence Test The Idea of Genetic Determinism 175. Silent Springs The Idea of Environmentalism

153. American Dream The Idea of American Exceptionalism 154. Manifest Destiny The Idea of American Expansionism

155. Dr. Strangelove The Idea of a Weapon to End War

Chris Nurse Rowan O’Neill

176. Fast Talking The Idea that Language is Innate

Helen Sear Miranda Whall

177. The Great Satan The Idea of Anti-Americanism

178. Global Village The Idea of Cultural Pluralism

Sue Williams Bedwyr Williams Craig Wood

127. Back to Nature The Idea of Romanticism

1800 AD

David Hastie

Elfyn Lewis

171. Black is Beautiful The Idea of Pride in Black Culture

173. The Great Chain The Idea of Manipulating the Code of Life

151. East Meets West The Indian Idea of Westernization

152. Asian Renaissance The Chinese Idea of Self-Strengthening

S. Mark Gubb

Naomi Leake

172. Out of Africa The Idea That Humans Originated in Africa

150. Rule, Britannia The Idea of British Superiority

116. The Noble Savage The Idea of Primitive Virtue

Peter Finnemore

Richard Higlett

168. Solid Foundations The Idea of Spontaneous Social Order

170. Road to Freedom The Idea of Existentialism 147. Atheist Faith The Idea of Godless Humanism

115. Forced to Be Free The Idea of The General Will

19. Inalienable Rights he Idea of Human Rights

166. Spending for Wealth The Idea of Welfare Economics

169. Peasant Socialism The Maoist Idea of Communism

146. Good Breeding The Idea of Eugenics

111. Workers Unite The Idea of the Labour Theory of Value

24. The Big Idea he Idea of Idealism

143. Chosen Victims The Idea of Anti-Semitism

Carwyn Evans

Andy Fung

167. A Better World The Idea of Universal Welfare

142. War Is Good The Idea that War Improves Society

Paul Emmanuel

Dafydd Fortt

165. Axe in The Sticks The Idea of Fascism

140. By Other Means The Idea of Total War

107. Heaven’s Order The Chinese Idea of Popular Sovereignty

163. Back to Basics The Idea of Religious Fundamentalism

139. Just Say No The Idea of Civil Disobedience

106. Nasty, Brutish, Short The Idea of a Savage ‘State of Nature’

108.Price of Everything The Idea of Monetary Theory

162. Little Man The Idea of Child Development

164. Many Ways The Idea of Religious Pluralism

138. Brother Knows Best The Idea of the Unchallengeable State

Michael Cousin Sean Edwards

161. Sleeper The Idea of The Unconscious

137. Hero Inside The Idea of The Superman

105. Law of Nations The Idea of International Order

sar ation

160. Their Own Terms The Idea of Cultural Relativism

136. Will to Power Nietzsche’s Idea of the Primacy of the Will

103. State First The Idea of the Overriding Interest of The State

Robinson

159. Common Sense The Idea of Pragmatism

135. Climate of Fear The Idea of Terrorism

Katie Allen Bermingham &

158. Chaos Theory The Idea of Unpredictablity

133. The Third Way The Idea of Christian Socialism

134. Less Is More The Idea of Anarchism

102. Little Pests The Idea of Microscopic Life-Forms

157. Uncertainty The Idea of The Implicated Observer

132. The Greatest Good The Idea of Utilitarianism

100. Fallen Apple The Idea of an Engineered

niverse 101. Invisible Powers The Idea of Harnessing Natural Energy

me dea on

129. The Doll’s House The New Ideas of Childhood and Womanhood

130. Extreme Optimism The Idea of Socialism

98. Prove Me Wrong The Idea of The Inductive Method

nity

156. Warped Universe The Idea of Relativity

128. My Country The Idea of Nationalism 96. Small World The Mistaken Idea of a Smaller Earth

1900 AD

2000 AD

Time (years)

We Have The Mirrors, We Have The Plans Gennym Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau

22 May – 4 September 2010 22 Mai – 4 Medi 2010

We Have The Mirrors, We Have The Plans Gennym Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau

Contents / Cynnwys

Foreword / Rhagair

Acknowledgments / Cydnabyddiaethau

Parting The Ideological Mist / Gwahanu’r Niwl Ideolegol

Ideas That Changed The World

Syniadau a Newidiodd y Byd

18 22

Katie Allen

Bermingham & Robinson

Michael Cousin

Sean Edwards

Paul Emmanuel

Carwyn Evans

Peter Finnemore

Dafydd Fortt

Andy Fung

S. Mark Gubb

David Hastie

Richard Higlett

Cecile Johnson Soliz

Naomi Leake

Elfyn Lewis

Heather and Ivan Morison

David Nash

Magali Nougarède

Chris Nurse

Rowan O’Neill

102

Helen Sear

106

Miranda Whall

110

Sue Williams

114

Bedwyr Williams

118

Craig Wood

List of Works / Rhestr o Weithiau

123

Colophon / Coloffon

128

Foreword / Rhagair

Beware… We are the artists. We have the mirrors, we Gochelwch... Ni ydi’r artistiaid, gennym ni mae’r drychau, gennym ni

have the plans. Craig Wood’s tongue-in-cheek take

mae’r cynlluniau. Mae Craig Wood yn ymwybodol o’r nifer o

on the notion that what artists do reflects society and

faniffestos, datganiadau, iwtopias a dystopias sydd yn frith yn

may even be prophetic of its future is self-mocking,

hanes celfyddyd fodern. Sylwad cellweirus a hunan-wawdiol,

aware of the many manifestos, declarations, utopias

â’i dafod yn ei foch, sydd ganddo am y syniad fod beth mae

and dystopias that litter modern art history. We

artistiaid yn ei wneud yn adlewyrchu cymdeithas, ac efallai yn

gleefully take it with all its mischievous irony and

broffwydol o’i dyfodol. Rydym yn ei dderbyn yn orfoleddus

ambiguity as the title for an exhibition involving

gyda’i holl eironi ac amwysedd, fel teitl i arddangosfa yn

twenty-five artists and artist partnerships, all with

cynnwys pump ar hugain o artistiaid a phartneriaethau

their different preoccupations and all working in

artistiaid, i gyd gyda’u rhagfarnau gwahanol a phawb yn

different ways to try to make sense of what it means

gweithio mewn ffyrdd gwahanol i drio gwneud synnwyr a beth

to be alive in this time and with (at least) one eye on

mae’n ei olygu i fod yn fyw yn yr oes yma, a chadw (o leiaf un)

the future.

llygad ar y dyfodol.

It is one of three exhibitions that mark the reopening

Mae hon yn un o dair arddangosfa sy’n nodi ail-agor y Mostyn

of Mostyn after its major rebuilding to a superb design

wedi’r ailadeiladu pwysig yn ôl dyluniad gwych y pensaer

by architect Dominic Williams. Expectations that a

Dominic Williams. Mae disgwyliadau y gall un arddangosfa,

single exhibition or even group of exhibitions can say,

neu hyd yn oed grwp o arddangosfeydd, ddweud y cyfan am

in one grand statement, everything there is to be said

oriel mewn un datganiad, yn afrealaidd, a’r cwbl fyddai Mostyn

about a gallery are unrealistic, and all Mostyn would

yn hawlio o’r arddangosfa Gennym Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni

claim for We Have The Mirrors, We Have The Plans

Mae’r Cynlluniau yw ei bod yn dangos ymroddiad yr oriel i fod

is that it indicates the commitment the Gallery has to

yn llwyfan i’r celfyddyd gorau a gynhyrchir yng Nghymru, yn

acting as a platform for the best art being produced

union fel mae’r ddwy arddangosfa arall sy’n agor ar yr un pryd

in Wales, just as the two exhibitions which open with

(Amgueddfa Iard Jync o bethau Lletchwith, gan y Junkman o Afrika

it (The Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things by The

a Flooded McDonald’s/McDonald’s Dan Ddwr ˆ gan Superflex) yn

Junkman from Afrika, and Flooded McDonald’s by

dangos yr un ymroddiad i ddod â chelfyddyd rhyngwladol i

Superflex) demonstrate Mostyn’s equal commitment

Gymru.

to bringing international art to Wales.

Hyd yn oed o fewn ein cyd-destun cenedlaethol ni ein hunain,

Even within our own national context, We Have

nid yw We Have the Mirrors, We Have the Plans/ Gennym Ni Mae’r

The Mirrors, We Have The Plans makes no claims

Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau yn gwneud dim honiadau i

to be totally definitive or fully comprehensive.

fod yn gwbl ddiffiniol nac yn gynhwysfawr. Am un peth, mae

For one thing, a number of artists were left out of

nifer o artistiaid wedi cael eu diystyrru am resymau an-artistig,

consideration for non-artistic reasons, such as having

megis fod ganddynt arddangosfa un-dyn o’u gwaith i’w chynnal

a one-person exhibition of their work due in the

o fewn y flwyddyn nesaf, neu eu bod yn bresennol yn yr Oriel

forthcoming year, or having a presence at the Gallery

mewn cyswllt arall. Mae hon fodd bynnag yn arddangosfa

in other ways. It is nevertheless a representative

gynrychioliadol mewn llawer ffordd, yn gydlynol ac wedi

exhibition in many ways, coherent and rigorously

cael ei dewis yn fanwl, ac yn dod ag artistiaid o oedrannau

selected and bringing together artists of widely

tra gwahanol ac o agweddau amrywiol, at ei gilydd mewn

different ages and great diversity of approach in

arddangosfa o ystod arwyddocaol, grym a nwyfiant. Mae

a show of significant range, power and vibrancy.

yna gynlluniau i ymgymryd â phrosiect cyffelyb bob pedair

It is planned to undertake a similar project every four years, so that over the long term it provides a

unique picture of artistic practice in a place and its development over time.

blynedd, fel y bydd yn y tymor hir yn darparu darlun unigryw o

Much work and effort has gone into the exhibition.

ymarfer artistig mewn lle, a’i ddatblygiad dros gyfnod o amser.

Special thanks are due to the Peter Moores

Mae llawer o waith ac ymdrech wedi mynd i greu’r arddangosfa.

Foundation, without whose very generous support

Mae diolch arbennig yn ddyledus i’r Peter Moores Foundation

it could not have taken place, and to the Colwinston

(Sefydliad Peter Moores): heb eu cyfraniad hael ni fyddai’r

Charitable Trust for support allowing this catalogue

arddangosfa wedi bod yn bosib. Diolch hefyd i’r Colwinson

to do justice to the exhibition and to be accessible.

Charitable Trust (Ymddiriedolaeth Elusennol Colwinson) am

We are particularly grateful to Amanda Farr of

gefnogaeth sy’n galluogi’r catalog hwn i wneud cyfiawnder â’r

Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Hannah Firth of

arddangosfa, a bod yn hygyrch.

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Karen MacKinnon of

Rydym yn neilltuol o ddiolchgar i Amanda Farr o Oriel Davies

the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea, Eve Ropek

y Drenewydd, Hannah Firth o Ganolfan Gelfyddydau Chapter,

of Aberystwyth Arts Centre, and to Chris Coppock

Caerdydd, Karen MacKinnon o Oriel Gelf Glynn Vivian,

formerly of Ffotogallery, Cardiff. As our Regional

Abertawe, Eve Ropek o Ganolfan Gelfyddydau Aberystwyth,

Advisors they brought to the tasks of nominating

ac i Chris Coppock gynt o Ffotogallery Caerdydd. Fel

artists and writing about them a combination of

ein Ymgynghorwyr Rhanbarthol daethant â chyfuniad o

enthusiasm and seriousness that were a great

frwdfrydedd a difrifoldeb i’r dasg o enwebu artistiaid ac

affirmation of our project. We would also like to

ysgrifennu amdanynt, oedd yn cadarnhau ein prosiect.

thank Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto, William

Hoffem ddiolch hefyd i’r Athro Felipe Fernández-Armesto

P. Reynolds Professor of History at the University of

William P. Reynolds, Athro Hanes ym Mhrifysgol Notre Dame

Notre Dame and Member of the Faculty of Modern

ac Aelod o Gyfadran Hanes Fodern ym Mhrifysgol Rhydychen,

History at Oxford University, for allowing our Head

am ganiatau i’n Pennaeth Arddangosfeydd, Anders Pleass,

of Exhibitions, Anders Pleass, to use his book Ideas

i ddefnyddio’i lyfr Ideas That Changed The World fel fframwaith

That Changed The World as the framework for some

ar gyfer myfyrdodau beirniadol o blaid y gwaith celf yn yr

critical thinking in support of the art works on display.

arddangosfa.

As always the greatest thanks must go to the twenty-

Fel arfer mae’r diolch mwyaf yn mynd i’r saith ar hugain

seven participating artists – twenty-three individuals

o artistiaid sy’n cymryd rhan, tri ar hugain o unigolion a

and two artist partnerships – whose work makes

dwy artist-bartneriaeth; eu gwaith hwy sydd yn gwneud

the exhibition. The eagerness with which they

yr arddangosfa. Roedd eu brwdfrydedd wrth ymateb i’r

responded to the invitation to take part was truly

gwahoddiad i gymryd rhan yn wirioneddol iachusol, fel yr oedd

refreshing, as was their willingness in many cases

eu parodrwydd yn llawer achos i gynnig gwaith newydd ac i

to offer new work and to work within the limitations

weithio o fewn y cyfyngiadau anorfod a geir mewn arddangosfa

that a large group exhibition inevitably brings. Our

grwp. Bydd ein cynulleidfa yn penderfynu i ba raddau y bydd

audience will decide to what extent they have the

ganddynt y drychau a’r cynlluniau.

mirrors and they have the plans. Martin Barlow

Martin Barlow

Cyfarwyddwr

Director

Acknowledgments / Cydnabyddiaethau

Mostyn would like to thank the following for their Hoffai Oriel Mostyn ddiolch i’r canlynol am eu cymorth wrth

assistance in mounting We Have The Mirrors, We

osod Gennym Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau:

Have The Plans:

Oriel Danielle Arnaud, Llundain; Canolfan Gelfyddydau

Marc Arkless, Danielle Arnaud Gallery, London;

Chapter, Caerdydd; Oriel Cube, Bryste; Raymond Davies;

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff; Sarah Christensen;

Katy Freer; Peter Goodridge; Papurau Wal Graham & Brown;

Cube Gallery, Bristol; Raymond Davies; Katy Freer;

Oriel Gelf ac Amgueddfa Glynn Vivian, Abertawe; Oriel Ceri

Peter Goodridge; Graham & Brown Wallpapers;

Hand, Lerpwl; Virginia Head; Julie Jones; Oriel Annely Juda,

Glynn Vivian Museum & Art Gallery, Swansea;

Llundain; Lauren Jury; Oriel Klompching, Efrog Newydd;

Ceri Hand Gallery, Liverpool; Virginia Head; Julie

Joanna Laing; Oriel Tanya Leighton, Berlin; Bleddyn Lewis;

Jones; Annely Juda Gallery, London; Lauren Jury;

Limoncello, Llundain; Amanda McMurray; Mermaid &

Klompching Gallery, New York; Joanna Laing; Tanya

Monster, Caerdydd; Serena Osti; Sash Reading; Anthony

Leighton Gallery, Berlin; Bleddyn Lewis; Limoncello,

Shapland; Alan Ward; Phil Williamson.

London; Amanda McMurray; Mermaid & Monster, Cardiff; Serena Osti; Sash Reading; Anthony Shapland; Alan Ward; Phil Williamson.

Parting The Ideological Mist / Gwahanu’r Niwl Ideolegol

We Have The Mirrors, We Have The Plans has had its genesis in a desire and a perceived need to celebrate

Cafodd Gennym Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau ei

the reopening of Mostyn with exhibitions embodying

ddechreuad trwy awydd ac angen gweledig i ddathlu ailagor

the gallery’s work with artists both from Wales and

y Mostyn gydag arddangosfeydd yn ymgorffori gwaith yr

from overseas. For the former, considerations of

oriel gydag artistiaid o Gymru ac o dramor. Rhoddwyd

the building’s striking new architecture, Mostyn’s

ystyriaeth i bensaerniaeth drawiadol yr adeilad, safle Mostyn

position as the largest contemporary gallery in

fel yr oriel gyfoes fwyaf yng Nghymru, a’r awydd i symbylu

Wales, and the desire to stimulate critical debate in

trafodaeth feirniadol yn y wlad, ac arweiniodd hyn yn rhwydd

the country, led fairly readily to a large group show

at arddangosfa grwp fawr yn dangos ystod eang o ymarfer yng

illuminating the wide range of practice in Wales,

Nghymru, yn rhydd o unrhyw lyffethair oedran a chyfrwng, a’r

free of constraints of age or medium and with the

artistiaid yn cymryd rhan wedi cael eu henwebu gan guraduron

participating artists nominated by leading curators

amlwg ar drws y wlad. Ac i goroni’r cyfan, cynnal arddangosfa

from around the country. And, for good measure,

debyg bob pedair blynedd, fydd dros gyfnod yn fodd i gadw

to it’s recurring every four years, becoming over a

bys ar y pyls.

period of time a significant taking of the pulse.

Ar yr un pryd foddbynnag, ac yn cymryd lle dros gyfnod

At the same time however, and taking place over a

hirach o adlewyrchu, datblygiad sydd o bwys mawr a sydd yn

longer period of reflection, a development of greater

fwy perthnasol yn y tymor hir i’r arddangosfa hon – ac i raglen

and more long-term relevance to this exhibition – and

arddangosfeydd Mostyn yn gyffredinol – yw’r awydd i fynd

to Mostyn’s programme of exhibitions generally – has

ati i gyfeirio, yn fwy trefnus nag o’r blaen, at beth ellid ei alw’n

been the desire to address, more systematically than

‘gwricwlwm o syniadau’ o fewn diwylliant ehangach celfyddyd

hitherto, what one might call a ‘curriculum of ideas’

weledol. Er fod yna nifer o ffyrdd y gellid gwneud hyn, nid

within the wider culture of visual art. While there are

yw’n ymddangos fod arddangosfa brysur, ddathliadol fel hon,

many ways in which to do this, a busy, celebratory

ddaeth i fodolaeth fel y crybwyllwyd uchod, yn cynnig ei hun

exhibition such as this one, coming into being in

yn amlwg i ffordd gonfensiynol o’i wneud, o leiaf ddim mewn

the way outlined above, does not seem to lend itself

ffordd y gellid ei mynegi’n gryno ac yn glir. Ond mae Gennym

most obviously to the more conventional ones, at

Ni Mae’r Drychau, Gennym Ni Mae’r Cynlluniau , trwy drefnu set

least in any way that could be expressed concisely

arbennig o syniadau gyda rhai o’r gweithiau celf gorau sy’n

and coherently. Yet We Have The Mirrors, We Have

cael ei wneud yng Nghymru, yn cynnig cwricwlwm credadwy

The Plans, through the alignment of a particular

i’w ystyried, un sy’n ogystal yn awgrymu yn y pen draw,

set of ideas with some of the best artwork being

ffordd wahanol o edrych ar gelfyddyd gyfoes yn ei gyd-destun

made in Wales, does offer a plausible curriculum

athronyddol ehangach. Mae hon yn ffordd a awgrymwyd gan

for consideration, one which, moreover, potentially

yr angen gweledig i unioni’r confensiynau arbennig, lle ceir

suggests the possibility of a different way of looking

theori ddiwylliannol ‘rhoddedig’ neu ‘honedig’ yn cael ei gosod

at contemporary art in its broader philosophical

ar waith artist. Ystyr ‘theori ddiwylliannol’ yw’r feddylfryd o

context. It is an approach suggested by the perceived

amser Marx a Freud i’r presennol, yn enwedig yr agweddau

need to redress the particular orthodoxies by which

ohoni sy’n dod o dan ambarel ôl-foderniaeth. Er fod y corff yma

a ‘given’ or ‘assumed’ cultural theory is applied to

o wybodaeth yn ddiamheuaeth yn ddefnyddiol, mae’n debyg y

the work of an artist. By ‘cultural theory’ is meant

gellid ei roi o’r neilltu i bwrpas yr arddangosfa hon, a chynnig

the canon of thought from Marx and Freud to the

meddylfryd wahanol, a thrwyddi efallai gallwn ddod i ddeall

present, particularly those aspects of it that come

celfyddyd gyfoes.

under the umbrella of post-modernity. Whilst this

body of knowledge is undeniably useful, for the Yn Ideas That Changed The World, a gyhoeddwyd yn 2003, mae

purposes of this exhibition it can perhaps be held it to

Felipe Fernández-Armesto wedi gosod rhestr o 178 o syniadau

one side, so to speak, and a somewhat different body

a dynnwyd o groesdorriad o hanes ac athroniaeth, hanes

of thought proposed through which one might come

syniadau sy’n ymgrynhoi corff o feddwl eang a dwfn sy’n

to an understanding of contemporary art.

ymestyn yn ôl i hen hanes ac wedyn ymlaen i bresennol ein

In Ideas That Changed The World, published in

hunfed ganrif ar hugain. Mae syniadau Fernández-Armesto yn

2003, Felipe Fernández-Armesto formulated a

cynnig apêl uniongyrchol a ffres, ynghyd â’r potensial i gipio’r

berthynas ddofn arbennig rhwng celfyddyd gyfoes a beth allem

of history and philosophy, a history of ideas

alw’n ‘gwestiynau mawr bywyd’.

encapsulating a broad and deep body of thought that

Yn ystod paratoadau ar gyfer yr arddangosfa hon, gwahoddwyd

stretches back into ancient history and then forward

artistiaid i ddarllen drwy’r rhestr yma o syniadau, a’u hystyried

into our 21st century present. Fernández-Armesto’s

mewn perthynas â’u hymarfer, a thynnu rhestr fer o tua deg

ideas offer an immediate and fresh appeal, combined

syniad a fyddai’n fwyaf pwysig iddynt hwy: dim ond y syniadau

with the potential to capture the very particular and

oedd o wir ddiddordeb iddynt; y syniadau oedd yn fwyaf

profound relationship between contemporary art

arwyddocaol i’w gwaith hwy fel artistiaid. Y nôd oedd i gael

and what one might call the ‘big questions in life’.

corff eang o syniadau a thrwyddynt ystyried gwaith unigol yn

In the course of preparing this exhibition, artists were

yr arddangosfa, a hefyd gael ffordd i gysylltu’r holl syniadau a

invited to read through the list of ideas and consider ddaeth i law gan yr holl artistiaid, er mwyn creu rhyw fath o ‘fap- them in relation to their practice, providing a shortlist ffordd’ dyfaliadol elfennol. Dylid nodi foddbynnag, mai agwedd of ten or so, of those that might be, for them, the hollol chwilfrydig oedd hon, sgyrsiol ac nid yn empeiraidd iawn.

most important ones: the ideas that really interested

Beth sy’n wir yw fod yr artistiaid i gyd wedi ymateb yn hael i’r

them; ideas that have the greatest significance for

alwad am eu ‘syniadau’, ond yn breifat cyfaddefodd ambell un

their work as an artist. The goal was to have a wide

iddynt gael y dasg braidd yn anodd ar brydiau, yn ogystal ag

body of ideas through which to consider individual

ychydig yn annealladwy. Aeth ychydig ohonynt ati i wneud y

work in the exhibition and also a means to connect

dasg mewn ffyrdd penodol: yn delio â’r rhestr fel petai yn gyfres

all ideas submitted by all artists, so as to arrive at a

o gwestiynau mewn prawf seicometrig. Mae’n ddealladwy fod

rudimentarily speculative ‘road map’. It should be

eu hymarferoldeb neu eu haddasrwydd ar gyfer y pwrpas, yma

noted, however, that the approach taken has been

ac acw, wedi cael eu hamau. Mae un artist, â’i dafod yn ei foch,

purely inquisitive, conversational and not particularly

wedi ychwanegu un syniad at y rhestr.1

empirical. What is true is that all artists responded to

Yng nghatalog yr arddangosfa cyflwynir y syniadau mewn

the call for their ‘ideas’ with generosity, whilst privately

tri math. Ceir y rhestr gyflawn ar ddiwedd y traethawd hwn,

a few admitted to finding the task somewhat trying at

ac maent yn ddigon diddorol i’w darllen yn annibynnol.

times, as well as a little mystifying. A few approached

Yn ychwanegol cyflwynir dewis pob artist o’i syniadau ar y

the task in quite particular ways: treating the list as if

tudalennau yn cyfeirio at ei waith ei hun. Wrth eu darllen tra’n

it were a series of questions in a psychometric test.

edrych ar y gweithiau, mae nhw’n crynhoi gwerthfawrogiad o’u

Understandably, here and there, their viability or

cyfraniad i’r arddangosfa hon, a gellid eu hystyried fel ffordd i

suitability for purpose has been questioned. One

1. Fi, fy hun, a fi Y syniad o hunan. Gweler tudalen 46 am y cyd-destun lle cynnigir yr hafaliad yma. Mae’n crynhoi poblyddiaeth llawer o gelfyddyd gyfoes ers pan gyhoeddwyd Ideas That Changed theWorld n 2003.

artist, tongue-in-cheek, added an idea to the list. 1 1. Me, Myself and I The idea of self. See page 46 for the context in which this addition has been proposed. It neatly sums up the populism of much contemporary art since Ideas That Changed the World was published in 2003.

In this exhibition catalogue they are presented in three forms. They are listed in full at the end of this

feddwl am ddarn unigol neu artist. Yn olaf, mae’r gwaith celf ar

essay, and make for very rewarding reading purely on

y clawr yn darparu ffordd fydd, i bob artist, efallai yn mapio eu

their own. Additionally, each artist’s choice of ideas is

dewis o syniad dros amser, a datgelu myrdd o ryng-gysylltiadau

presented on the pages referring to his or her work.

a chydberthnasau.

Read whilst looking at the works, they round out an

Mae hi’n bwysig i ddeall cyfyngiadau yr ymarfer yma. Er y

appreciation of their contributions to this exhibition, and can also be treated as a way into thinking about an individual piece or artist. Finally, the artwork on the cover provides a means that, for each artist, might map their choice of idea across time, revealing a myriad of inter-connections and relationships.

byddai’n wiriondeb i un arddangosfa hawlio’n bendant i fedru ddangos y cwbl o gelfyddyd gyfoes Cymru ar un amser, yn yr un modd mae’n rhaid i’r cyd-destun sy’n dilyn aros yn waith sydd ar y gweill. Yn ychwanegol, wrth ddefnyddio’r syniadau yn y modd yma, rydym i raddau helaeth, yn gaeth i’r un cyfyngiadau a oedd yn hysbys o’u cychwyn cyntaf: er eu bod yn

It is important to grasp the limitations of this exercise.

wrthrychol, mae nhw’n ddewisiad personol o’r dechrau.

Just as it would be foolhardy for a single exhibition

Wrth fod y syniadau fel y gosodwyd nhw gan Fernández-

to claim definitively to show the full extent of contemporary art in Wales at any given moment, its attendant contextualization likewise must remain a work in progress. Additionally, in making use of these ideas in this manner, one is, to a considerable extent, subject to the same limitations that informed their original inception: although objective, these are a personal selection from the outset.

Armesto, yn gronolegol ac yn mynd yn ôl ymhellach na’r oesoedd cynnar i’r oes baleolithig (y syniad hynaf yw canibaliaeth), mae hi’n drawiadol i weld sut mae dewisiadau’n hartistiaid wedi cael eu gwasgaru ar draws yr hanes hwnnw. Yn cadw at elfen bwysig yn y llyfr – fod syniadau sydd o bwys heddiw yn aml yn wreiddiol o dras hynafol – cawn ein hatgoffa fod llawer o gelfyddyd gyfoes yn delio â syniadau sydd mewn gwirionedd yn hen iawn, iawn. Syniadau sydd efallai oherwydd

Since the ideas, as Fernández-Armesto has formulated

eu diffyg dadansoddiad yn fythol ddiddorol. Yn amlach na

them, are chronological and go back beyond antiquity

pheidio, mae eu dewis o syniadau yn adlewyrchu diddordeb

to the Paleolithic (the oldest idea is cannibalism), it

sylfaenol artistiaid mewn gwelediad a’u dirniadaeth o realaeth,

is striking to see how the choices of our artists are

yn ei holl ffurfiau.

broadly scattered across that history. In keeping with

Y syniad unigol mwyaf ‘poblogaidd’ gan yr artistiaid yma,

a key element of the book – that ideas that matter today are often of ancient origin – we are reminded that much contemporary art deals with ideas that are, in fact, very, very old. Ideas that perhaps because of their lack of resolution remain eternally interesting. Overwhelmingly, their choice of ideas reflects the fundamental preoccupation of artists with vision and the perception of reality, in all its forms.

ac nid yr un hynaf un, yw ‘Gwahanu’r Niwl: Y syniad y gall ein synhwyrau gael eu twyllo’, yn dyddio o tua 25,000 CC. Mae’n siarad cyfrolau am beth y mae artistiaid yn ei wneud, a natur celf ar hyn o bryd. Y syniad ddaeth yn ail o ran poblogrwydd yw ‘Cysgwr: Y syniad o’r anymwybodol’. Mae hwn yn ymddangos yn yr ugeinfed ganrif ac mae’n tanlinellu cyfraniadau sylweddol Freud. Mae uchafiaeth unigol ‘Gwahanu’r Niwl’ yn adlewyrchu ymdriniaeth â phroblemau

The single most ‘popular’ idea with these artists,

mwyaf anodd eu trin yn ymwneud â dirniadaeth, sydd yn

and not quite the oldest, dating from approximately

effeithio arnom i gyd. Mae’n dangos y broses greadigol yn

25,000 BC is ‘Parting the Mist: The idea that our

bennaf fel ymdrech i fod yn eglur, ac mae hyn, o wybod fod

senses can be deluded’. It speaks volumes about what

diffyg eglurdeb, camsyniadau synhwyraidd, yn greadigol

artists do and the nature of art at this moment in

time. Running a very close second to this is ‘Sleeper: faethlon. Ar y llaw arall, mae casgliad Fernández-Armesto fod

The idea of the unconscious’. The latter emerges

‘ y da a’r drwg a lifodd o theori Freud wedi cydbwyso’n dda ac

in the 20th century and underlines the significant

mae’n wrthrychol anfesuradwy’ yn cydfynd â llawer o waith yn

contributions of Freud. The single primacy of ‘Parting

yr arddangosfa.2 Mae’n adleisio’r cydbwysedd rhwng y rheini

the Mist’ reflects concerns with the most intractable

y mae’r mater yn gymorth iddynt i ddeall eu creadigrwydd

problems of perception that affect us all. It shows

eu hunain, a’r rheini sydd yn meddwl mwy am ei ganlyniadau

the creative process as primarily a striving for clarity,

cymdeithasol. Beth sy’n bwysig yw’r ffaith bod y ddau syniad

and this equally in the knowledge that a lack of it, a

yma wedi eu lleoli ar ddau begwn amser, y rhain yw’r ddau

sensory delusion, is creatively nourishing. On the

syniad mwyaf poblogaidd gan yr artistiaid, ac mae’r ddau

other hand, Fernandez-Armesto’s conclusion that ‘the

syniad yn perthyn i’w gilydd. O’u cymryd gyda’i gilydd mae

good and evil that has flowed from Freud’s theory is

nhw’n darparu cnewyllyn i ddeallusrwydd o’r gwaith yn yr

nicely balanced and objectively incalculable’ rings

arddangosfa, ac i raddau helaeth i ddeallusrwydd o gyfyng-

true with much work in the exhibition. 2 It echoes

gyngor ehangach celfyddyd gyfoes heddiw, yn ogystal.

the balance between those for whom the issue is an

Isod ceir casgliad o chwech o syniadau a ddyfynnir yn aml, ac

avenue towards understanding their own creativity

er nad ydynt yn perthyn i’w gilydd, mae nhw’n syniadau a allai gael eu cymryd fel mesur o’r gofidiau a diddordebau cyfredol: ‘Rhowch Arwydd i Mi: Y syniad o symbolau’, ‘Grymus ac Ofnadwy: Y syniad o farwolaeth’, ‘Dychmygwch Hyn: Y syniad o gynrychiolaeth artistig’, ‘Amser Breuddwydio: Y syniad fod y byd yn rhith’, ‘Yr Ail Rywogaeth, Y syniad o ffeminyddiaeth’, a ‘Yn ôl i Natur: Y syniad o ramantiaeth’. Gellid dweud fod y

and those more concerned with its societal fall-out. What is important is the manner in which these two ideas are at the opposite ends of recorded time, are the two ideas of most interest to these artists and are themselves related. Taken together, they provide the nucleus to an understanding of both the works in this exhibition, and to a greater extent, of the wider

rhain yn dangos rhywbeth arferol, cyffredin i’r artistiaid. Mae

predicament of contemporary art today.

gan rhai seiliau sylweddol mewn celfyddyd hanesyddol, ac

Below this sits a collection of six frequently cited –

maent yn mapio allan gyfrannau mawr o waith wedi ei gysegru

though largely unrelated – ideas which might be taken

i barhau i ymwneud â rhai o themau pwysig celfyddyd gyfoes,

as a measure of current concerns and preoccupations:

yn enwedig mewn perthynas â’i hanes ei hun. Mewn ffordd,

‘Give me a Sign: The idea of symbols’, ‘Mighty and

mae eu presenoldeb yma yn ddisgwyliedig i rhyw raddau.

Dreadful: The idea of death’, ‘Picture This: The idea

Yn drydydd, ceir pâr o syniadau sy’n ymddangos eu bod yn

of artistic representation’, ‘Dreamtime: The idea

cefnogi ‘Gwahanu’r Niwl’. Y ddau yw ‘Y Gwagle Mawr: Y syniad o ddim’, a ‘Realaeth Wedi Ei Datgelu: Y syniad o’r haniaethol’. Eto, mae’n drawiadol mor agos y mae’r syniadau yma at ei gilydd, ac fel y maent yn wedi dod yn gydradd drydydd mwyaf poblogaidd gan yr artistiaid. Maent yn adlewyrchu’n gryf y ffyrdd artisig, yn enwedig yn achos yr haniaethol, tuag at ddelio â’r un prif beth yn yr arddangosfa hon: delio â chamsyniadau synhwyraidd. 2. Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Ideas That Changed the World 2003, Llundain: Dorling Kindersley Ltd. tud. 357 .

that the world is an illusion’, ‘The Second Sex: The idea of Feminism’ and ‘Back to Nature: The idea of Romanticism’. These might be seen as demonstrating a certain business-as-usual for these artists. Some have very considerable art historical underpinnings, and they map out a sizeable proportion of work devoted to the on-going and incomplete address of some of the major themes of contemporary art, particularly in relation to its own history. In a sense their presence here is, to some extent, to be expected. 2. Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Ideas That Changed the World 2003, London: Dorling Kindersley Ltd. p. 357.

Thirdly, there follows a pair of ideas that appear to act in support of ‘Parting the Mist’. These are

Yn olaf, mae gennym restr weddol hir o syniadau i ddilyn y

‘The Great Void: The idea of nothing’ and ‘Reality

grwpiadau mawr uchod. Mae nhw’n dilyn o’r cefn, fel petae:

Unveiled: The idea of abstraction’. Again, it is striking

‘Pawb i Newid: Y syniad o fydysawd deinamig’, ‘Dyn yw’r

how closely related these ideas are to each other

Mesur: Y syniad fod gwirionedd yn gymharol’, ‘Neverland: Y

and how, in the hands of these artists they find

syniad Iwtopaidd’, ‘Ansicrwydd: Y syniad o wyliwr cysylltiedig’,

themselves tied as the third most popular choices.

‘Yr Hudoliaeth Newydd: Y syniad nad yw realaeth yn wybodol’,

They reflect strongly the artistic routes, particularly

‘Fy Ngwlad: Y syniad o Genedlaetholdeb’, ‘Optimistiaeth

in the case of abstraction, towards dealing with the

Eithafol: Y syniad o sosialaeth’, ‘Theori Anrhefn: Y

single greatest issue in this exhibition: The address of

syniad o anrhagweladwyedd’, ‘Ffrydiau Tawel: Y syniad o

sensory delusion.

amgylcheddaeth’, a ‘Pentref Byd-Eang: Y syniad o luosogaeth

Finally, we have a fairly extensive list of ideas to

diwylliannol’. Yn annhebyg i’r grwp blaenorol sydd yn fwy

follow up on these major groupings above. They

cysylltiedig â materion mwy ffurfiol, gall y rhain gael eu gweld

bring up the rear, so to speak: ‘All Change: The idea

fel arwyddion o gyfeiriad y dyfodol.

of a dynamic universe’, ‘Man is the Measure: The

O’r fan yma ymlaen rydym yn nhiriogaeth dewisiadau personol

idea that truth is relative’, ‘Neverland: The utopian

mympwyol, ac mae’r amrywiaeth yn eang, ond mae’r syniadau

idea’, ‘Uncertainty: The idea of the implicated

a hepgorwyd gan yr artistiaid yn llawn mor ddiddorol.

observer’, ‘The New Illusion: The idea that reality is

Oherwydd eu neilltuolrwydd nid yw rhai o’r syniadau o ddim

unknowable’, ‘My Country: The idea of Nationalism’,

diddordeb i’r artistiaid: ‘Hadau Gwasgaredig: Y syniad o

‘Extreme Optimism: The idea of Socialism’, ‘Chaos

uchafiaeth Siapaneaidd’, er enghraifft. Roedd grwp mwy a

Theory: The idea of unpredictability’, ‘Silent Springs:

allasai fod wedi bod o ddiddordeb: ‘Brenhinoedd-Athronwyr: Y

The idea of Environmentalism’, and ‘Global Village:

syniad o reoli gan oreugwyr deallusol’, ‘Y Siarter Cymdeithasol:

The idea of cultural pluralism’. Unlike the earlier

Y syniad o’r cytundeb cymdeithasol’, ‘Iawnderau Diymwad:

group that are perhaps more closely tied to more

Y syniad o iawnderau dynol’, ‘Gwario Er Mwyn Cyfoeth:

formal concerns, these might be read as indicators of

Y syniad o economeg lles’, ‘Gwylioi’r Praidd: Y syniad o’r

future direction.

dalaeth’, a ‘Gorfodaeth i Fod yn Rhydd: Y syniad o’r ewyllys

Below this we are in the realm of idiosyncratic

gyffredinol’, – nid oedd dim diddordeb gan yr artistiaid yn

individual choices, and the variety is extensive,

y rhain. Daw y syniadau yma o amser y Diwygiad a’r Oes

although of as much interest are those ideas

Oleuedig yn ystod yr ail ganrif ar bymtheg a’r ddeunawfed

neglected by the artists. A number of ideas

ganrif, ac ymddangosant yn ddiwerth yn y cyd-destun yma.

are, understandably of no appeal, given their

Pam? Er fod yr atebion yn gymhleth, mae nhw’n neilltuol o

particularity, ‘Scattered Grains: The idea of Japanese

berthnasol wrth ail-ystyried pwrpas theori ddiwylliannol yr

superiority’, for example. A larger group that might

artist. Mae rheolwriaethu cyfun (gwleidyddol) gwybodaeth yn

attract interest, however, do not: ‘Philosopher Kings:

sffêr celfyddyd gyfoes ers chwe-degau’r ugeinfed ganrif wedi

The idea of rule by an intellectual elite’, ‘The Social

arwain at rhyw uniongrededd arbennig, sydd wedi cymhlethu

Charter: The idea of the social contract’, ‘Inalienable

ei ddirniadaeth yn arw. Mae’n drawiadol na ddewisodd yr un

Rights: The idea of human rights’, ‘Spending for

o’r artistiaid y syniadau a oedd yn nghanol hyn. Mae’n anodd

Wealth: The idea of welfare economics’, ‘Watching

gweld hyn fel adlewyrchiad o naïfrwydd ar ran yr artistiaid. Yn

the Flock: The idea of the state’ and, ‘Forced to be

hytrach, mae’n dangos yn iawn ddyraniad llafur defnyddiol, ac

Free: The idea of the general will’ all garnered no interest. These ideas, emerging as they do from the

Reformation and Enlightenment, in the 17th and mae’r ddwy ochr yn elwa ohono. Mae’r ffordd yma o edrych ar

18th centuries, would seem to have no value in this

gelfyddyd, yn sylweddol drwy syniadau, yn amlinellu tiriogaeth context. Why is this? Although complex, the answers newydd i’r artist a’r ymwelydd i’r oriel fel ei gilydd, ac yn fwyaf

are particularly germane when re-considering

pwysig efallai, maent yn cadarnhau yr oriel gelf gyfoes fel

the function of cultural theory for the artist. The

sefydliad ideolegol – nid mewn ystyr gwleidyddol efallai, ond

comprehensive (political) managerialisation of

yn bendant yn yr ystyr mai ‘syniadau trwy gelf’ ydi beth mae’r

knowledge in the sphere of contemporary art since

Mostyn yn ei olygu.

the 1960s has resulted in a certain orthodoxy that

Mae’r ‘defnydd o syniadau’ fel y cyfeirir ato yma, yn un o’r

has profoundly complicated its perception. It is

llawer o ffyrdd y gallasai’r oriel fod wedi eu dilyn gydag arddangosfa o’r math yma. Efallai y dylid cael fframwaith guradurol newydd iddi bob pedair blynedd, un a fyddai’n darparu strwythur i’r arolwg i’r dyfodol. Y farn sylfaenol y byddai celfyddyd gyfoes, wrth gael ei gweld fel sianel hanfodol o syniadau (a gyda gwerthfawrogiad o’u hamrywiaeth anhygoel) yn peidio â bod yn arbenigedd cyfyngedig fel y byddai rhai yn dymuno, ond yn parhau yn gyfan. Er fod profi celfyddyd gyfoes yn erbyn y syniadau ehangaf mewn hanes yn gallu bod yn llawn rhwystrau, mae’n dda i’r Mostyn yn y cyswllt

striking that none of these artists have chosen ideas that lie at the heart of this. It is hard to see this as reflecting a naïveté on the part of the artist. Rather, it properly demonstrates a useful division of labour, and both sides are the richer for it. This way of looking at art, concretely through ideas, plots out new territory for both artist and gallery-goer alike and, most importantly perhaps, affirms the gallery of contemporary art as an ideological institution – if not in the political sense, then certainly in the sense that

pwysig hwn: rownd agoriadol mewn trafodaeth fwy aeddfed am

‘ideas through art’ are what the Mostyn is all about.

ystod, maint a dyhead celfyddyd gyfoes yng Nghymru, dyna

The ‘use of ideas’ as applied here is one of many

beth mae tyfiant yr oriel yn ei fynnu.

possible avenues that might have been taken with an exhibition of this nature. Perhaps a novel curatorial

Anders Pleass Pennaeth Arddangosfeydd

framework for it should be called for every four years, one with which to provide structure to the survey into the future. The fundamental thinking that, when seen as a vital conduit of ideas (and with an appreciation of their incredible variety) contemporary art ceases to be the limited specialism some would have it be, remains intact. Whilst the testing of contemporary art against the broadest ideas in history may have its pitfalls, it serves the Mostyn well at this critical juncture: an opening salvo in a more mature debate about the scope, extent and aspiration of contemporary art in Wales that the growth of the gallery demands.

Anders Pleass Head of Exhibitions

Ideas That Changed The World

Eating People The idea of cannibalism

All Change The idea of a dynamic universe

Give Me a Sign The idea of symbols

Time’s Arrow The idea of time as a linear progression

Parting the Mist The idea that our senses can be deluded

Exquisite Reason The rationalist idea

All Things are Invisible The idea of a spirit world

Not a Horse The idea of the existence of universal concepts

Fly Like an Eagle The idea of transformation into animal or god

Man is the Measure The idea that truth is relative

The Vision Thing The idea of communicating with the spirit world

Count on This The idea that numbers are real

The Golden Key The idea of controlling nature through magic

If x Then y The idea of logical proof

May the Force… The idea of a purposeful universal force

Matter Matters The materialist idea

No Dice The idea of an orderly universe

Smashing Atoms The idea of atoms

Around the Clock The idea of measuring time

Against Supernature The idea of science

Mighty and Dreadful The idea of death

Nothing Matters The idea of a purposeless world

Buried Goods The idea of the afterlife

Scientific Method The Taoist idea of knowledge

The Family Silver The idea of transmitting status by heredity

Good Humours The idea of medicine as science not magic

Take, Eat The idea of proscribing certain foods

Ethical Beings The idea that human nature is moral

A Family Affair The idea of regulating incest

Top Ape The idea of human superiority

Picture This The idea of artistic representation

Return of the Soul The idea of reincarnation

Reading the Stars The astrological idea

Happiness First The idea of practical ethics

Seeing Double The idea of a two-fold cosmos

A Capital Idea The idea that capitalism is good

Good and Evil The idea of a universal morality

Legalism The idea that law and order come first

Black Magic The idea of witchcraft

Rule of the Best The idea of republican government

Animal Magic The idea of totemism

Human Bondage The idea of natural slavery

Eat, Drink The idea of the ritual sharing of food

Philosopher-Kings The idea of rule by an intellectual elite

Fair Exchange The idea of trade

The Great Void The idea of nothing

Drowning the Deer The idea of sacrifice

Power of Thought The idea that thought alone created the universe

Written in the Wind The idea of oracles

No God but God The idea of one all-powerful deity

Outside Eden The idea of agriculture

Love Above The idea that God loves people

Lords of Creation The idea of re-shaping nature

Big Brotherhood The idea of universal love

The Curse of Work The idea of the work-leisure divide

Word made Flesh The idea of divine incarnation

God is a Woman The mother-goddess idea

One in Substance The Christian idea of the trinity

Just like a Woman The idea of sexism

God’s Free Love The Christian idea of grace

No Mercy The idea of massacre

Lightning Flash The idea of illumination

Take a Letter The idea of writing

Dumbing Up The idea that too much learning is bad

Watching the Flock The idea of the state

Damned Time The Christian idea of predestination

Divine Majesty The idea of the ruler as god

Wicked World The idea that creation is evil

Universal Rule The idea of one-world government

Centre of the World The idea of Chinese superiority

Getting Together The idea of marriage

This is my Body The idea of the Christian church

Written in Stone The idea of unchanging law codes

Render unto Caesar The idea of the separation of church and state

A Golden Age The idea that all humankind is equal

Islam The idea of religion as law

Conquering Death The idea of eternal monuments

I Am The State The idea of unrestricted royal power

Judgement Day The idea of divine justice

The Social Charter The idea of the social contract

Deo Volente The idea of fate

Scattered Grains The idea of Japanese superiority

Dreamtime The idea that the world is an illusion

Noble Education The meritocratic idea

All is One The idea of monism

Noblesse Oblige The idea of chivalry

Books of Truth The idea of infallible holy scripture

Love Conquers All The idea of marrying for love

The New Illusion The idea that reality is unknowable

Impossibilism The idea of anti-science

Mu The idea of Zen

Climate of Fear The idea of terrorism

Sacred Art The idea of icons

Will to Power Nietzsche’s idea of the primacy of the will

Holy Terror The idea of sacred war

Hero Inside The idea of the superman

Christian Soldiers The idea of spiritual conquest

Brother Knows Best The idea of the unchallengeable state

Fool’s Gold The idea of magic as science

By Other Means The idea of total war

Small World The mistaken idea of a smaller earth

Master Morality The idea that might is right

Here Comes The Sun The idea of a sun-centred universe

War is Good The idea that war improves society

Prove me Wrong The idea of the inductive method

Chosen Victims The idea of anti-semitism

Cogito Ergo Sum The idea that individual existence is verifiable

Inferior by Nature The idea of scientific racism

Fallen Apple The idea of an engineered universe

Tooth and Claw The idea of natural selection

Invisible Powers The idea of harnessing natural energy

Good Breeding The idea of eugenics

Little Pests The idea of microscopic life-forms

Atheist Faith The idea of godless humanism

State First The idea of the overriding interest of the state

Calculating Machine The idea of artificial intelligence

Brotherhood of Man The idea of human unity

Master Race The idea of German superiority

Law of Nations The idea of international order

Rule, Britannia The idea of British superiority

Nasty, Brutish, Short The idea of a savage ‘state of nature’

East Meets West The Indian idea of westernization

Heaven’s Order The Chinese idea of popular sovereignty

Asian Renaissance The Chinese idea of self-strengthening

Price for Everything The idea of monetary theory

American Dream The idea of American exceptionalism

Tight Money The idea of mercantilism

Manifest Destiny The idea of American expansionism

Laissez-faire The idea of the free market

Dr. Strangelove The idea of a weapon to end war

Workers Unite The idea of the labour theory of value

Warped Universe The idea of relativity

Neverland The utopian idea

Uncertainty The idea of the implicated observer

Getting Better The idea of progress

Chaos Theory The idea of unpredictability

Cleansing The Temple The idea of anticlericalism

Common Sense The idea of pragmatism

Force to be Free The idea of the general will

Their Own Terms The idea of cultural relativism

The Noble Savage The idea of primitive virtue

Sleeper The idea of the unconscious

We, the People The idea of representative democracy

Little Man The idea of child development

Nation in Arms The idea of the citizen-warrior

Back To Basics The idea of religious fundamentalism

Inalienable Rights The idea of human rights

Many Ways The idea of religious pluralism

Promontory of Asia The idea of Europe

Axe In The Sticks The idea of fascism

The Second Sex The idea of feminism

Spending For Wealth The idea of welfare economics

Many Mouths The idea of overpopulation

A Better World The idea of universal welfare

If it Ain’t Broke… The idea of conservatism

Solid Foundations The idea of spontaneous social order

Just Say No The idea of civil disobedience

Peasant Socialism The Maoist idea of communism

The Big Idea The idea of idealism

Road to Freedom The idea of existentialism

Reality Unveiled The idea of abstraction

Black is Beautiful The idea of pride in black culture

Perfect Harmony The idea of classical principles in art

Out of Africa The idea that humans originated in Africa

Back to Nature The idea of romanticism

The Great Chain The idea of manipulating the code of life

My Country The idea of nationalism

Intelligence Test The idea of genetic determinism

The Doll’s House New ideas of childhood and womanhood

Silent Springs The idea of environmentalism

Extreme Optimism The idea of socialism

Fast Talking The idea that language is innate

Class Struggle The idea of an historical dialectic

The Great Satan The idea of anti-Americanism

The Greatest Good The idea of utilitarianism

Global Village The idea of cultural pluralism

The Third Way The idea of Christian socialism Less is More The idea of anarchism

Syniadau a Newidiodd y Byd

Bwyta Pobl Y syniad o ganibaliaeth

Pawb i Newid Y synaid o fydysawd ddeinamig

Rhowch Arwydd i Mi Y syniad o symbolau

Saeth Amser Y syniad fod amser yn ddatblygiad llinellol

Gwahanu’r Niwl Y syniad y gall ein syniadau gael eu twyllo

Rheswm Cain Y syniad rhesymegol

Popeth Anweledig Y syniad o fyd ysbrydol popeth

Nid Ceffyl Y syniad o fodolaeth cysyniadau cyffredinol

Hedfan Fel Eryr Y syniad o drawsnewid i anifail neu dduw

Dyn yw’r Mesur Y syniad fod gwirionedd yn berthynol

Y Peth Gweledigaeth Yna Y syniad o gyfathrebu â’r byd ysbrydol

Cyfrwch Myn Y syniad for rhifau yn real

Yr Allwedd Aur Y syniad o reoli natur trwy ddewiniaeth

Os yw x yn... Bydd y yn... Y syniad o brawf rhesymegol

Boed i’r Grym... Y syniad o rym gyffredinol bwrpasol

Mae Mater yn Cyfri Y syniad materol

Dim Dis Y syniad o fydysawd drefnus

Malu Atomau Y syniad o atomau

Rownd y Cloc Y syniad o fesur amser

Yn Erbyn Gwrthnaturaeth Y syniad o wyddoniaeth

Grymus ac Ofnadwy Y syniad o farwolaeth

Does dim yn Cyfri Y syniad o fyd dibwrpas

Nwyddau wedi’i Claddu Y syniad o’r byd nesaf

Dull Gwyddonol Y syniad taoaidd o wybodaeth

Pethau Arian y Teulu Y syniad o drosglwyddo statws trwy etifeddiaeth

Hwyliau da Y syniad o feddyginiaeth fel gwyddoniaeth ac nid hud

Cymerwch, Bwytewch Y syniad o wahardd rhai bwydydd

Bodau Dynol Y syniad fod y natur ddynol yn foesol

Mater Teuluol Y syniad o reoleiddio llosgach

Prif Epa Y syniad o oruchafiaeth dynol

Dychmygwch Hyn Y syniad o gynrychiolaeth artistig

Dychwel yr Enaid Y syniad o ailymgnawdoli

Darllen y Ser Y syniad astrolegol

Hapusrwydd Gyntaf Y syniad o foeseg ymarferol

Gweld Dwbl Y syniad o gosmos deublyg

Prif Syniad Y syniad fod cyfalafiaeth yn dda

Da a Drwg Y syniad o foesoldeb cyffredinol

Cyfreithioldeb Y syniad fod cyfraith a threfn yn dod gyntaf

Dewiniaeth Ddu Y syniad o ddewiniaeth

Y Gorau’n Rheoli Y syniad o lywodraeth weriniaethol

Dewiniaeth Anifeiliaid Y syniad o dotemiaeth

Caethiwed Dynol Y syniad o gaethwasanaeth naturiol

Bwytewch, Yfwch Y syniad o rannu bwyd defodol

Brenhinoedd-Athronwyr Y syniad o reoli gan oreugwyr deallusol

Cyfnewid Teg Y syniad o fasnach

Y Gwagle Mawr Y syniad o ddim

Boddi’r Ceirw Y syniad o aberthu

Grym Meddwl Y syniad mai meddwl yn unig a greodd y bydysawd

Ysgrifenedig yn y Gwynt Y syniad o oracl

Dim Duw ond Duw Y syniad o un duwiaeth cwbl rymus

Tu Allan i Eden Y syniad o amaethyddiaeth

Cariad Goruwch Y syniad fod duw yn caru pobl

Duwiau’r Creu Y syniad o ail-ffurfio natur

Byd y ‘Brawd Mawr’ Y syniad o gariad byd eang

Melltith Gwaith Y syniad o’r rhaniad rhwng gwaith/hamdden

Y Gair a Wnaethpwyd yn Gnawd Y syniad o ymgnawdoliad dwyfol

Dynes yw Duw Y syniad o’r fam-dduwies

Un Mewn Sylwedd Y syniad cristnogol o’r drindod

Union fel Dynes Y syniad o rywiaeth

Caraid Rhad Duw Y syniad cristnogol o ras

Dim Trugaredd Y syniad o laddfa

Golau Mellt Y syniad o oleuni

Cymrwch Lythyr Y syniad o ysgrifennu

Mynd yn Dwp Y syniad fod gormod o addysg yn ddrwg

Gwylio’r Praidd Y syniad o dalaeth

Amser Felltith Y synaid cristnogol o ragordeiniad

Urddas Dwyfol Y syniad o’r rheolwr fel duw

Byd Drwg Y syniad fod y greadigaeth yn ddieflig

Rheolaeth Gyffredinol Y syniad o lywodraeth un-byd

Canol y Byd Y syniad o uchafiaeth sineaidd

Dod at Eich Gilydd Y syniad o briodas

Hwn yw fy Nghorff Y syniad o’r eglwys gristnogol

Ysgrifenwyd ar Garreg Y syniad o godau cyfraith di-newid

Eiddo Cesar i Gesar Y syniad o wahanu’r eglwys a’r wladwriaeth

Oes Aur Y syniad fod yr holl ddynolryw yn gyfartal

Islam Y syniad o grefydd fel cyfraith

Gorchfygu Marwolaeth Y syniad o gofgolofnau bythol

Fi ydi’r Wladwriaeth Y syniad o rym brenhinol dillyffethair

Dydd y Farn Y syniad o gyfiawnder dwyfol

Y Siarter Cymdeithasol Y syniad o’r cytundeb cymdeithasol

Deo Volente Y syniad o ffawd

Hadau Gwasgaredig Y syniad o uchafiaeth siapaneaidd

Amser Breuddwydio Y syniad fod y byd yn rhith

Addysg Fonheddig Y syniad meritocrataidd

Popeth yn Un Y syniad o fonyddiaeth

Bonedd a Ddwg Gyfrifoldeb Y syniad o sifalri

Llyfrau o Wirionedd Y syniad o ysgrythur sanctaidd anffaeledig

Serch Orchfyga Bopeth Y syniad o briodi am serch

Yr Hudoliaeth Newydd Y syniad nad yw realaeth yn wybodol

Amhosibilrwydd Y syniad o wrth-wyddoniaeth

Mu Y syniad o Zen

Hinsawdd o Ofn Y syniad o frawyddiaeth

Celfyddyd Gysegredig Y syniad o eiconau

Ewyllys Grym Syniad Nietzsche o uchafiaeth ewyllys

Arswyd Sanctaidd Y syniad o ryfel cysygredig

Arwr tu Mewn Y syniad o superman

Milwyr Cristnogol Y syniad o orchfygiad ysbrydol

Brawd sy’n Gwybod Orau Y syniad o’r wladwriaeth anamheus

Aur Ffyliaid Y syniad o hud fel gwyddoniaeth

Trwy Ddull Gwahanol Y syniad o ryfel pendant

Byd Bach Y camsyniad o fyd llai

Prif Foesau Y syniad mai grym sy’n iawn

Mae’r Haul yn Dod Y syniad o fydysawd haul-ganolog

Mae Rhyfel yn Dda Y syniad fod rhyfel yn gwella cymdeithas

Profwch fi’n Anghywir Y syniad o’r dull anwythol

Dioddefwyr Dewisiedig Y syniad o wrth-semitiaeth

Cogito Ergo Sum Y syniad fod bodolaeth unigolyn yn brofadwy

Israddol wrth Natur Y syniad o hiliaeth gwyddoniaethol

Afal Disgynedig Y syniad o fydysawd wedi ei beirianyddu

Dant ac Ewin Y syniad o ddewisiad naturiol

Grymoedd Anweledig Y syniad o ffrwyno ynni naturiol

Magwrfa Dda Y syniad o ewgenedd

Plau Bychain Y syniad o ffurfiau byw meicrosgopig

Cred Anffyddiol Y syniad o ddynoliaeth di-dduw

Gwladwriaeth Gyntaf Y syniad o’r diddordeb pennaf yn y wladwriaeth

Peiriant Cyfri Y syniad o wybodusrwydd artiffisial

Brawdoliaeth Dyn Y syniad o undeb dynol

Prif Hil Y syniad o uchafiaeth almaeneg

Cyfraith y Gwledydd Y syniad o drefn rhyngwladol

Rule Britannia Y syniad o uchafiaeth prydain

Cas, Anifeilaidd, Byr Y syniad o ‘gyflwr natur’ anwaraidd

Dwyrain yn Cyfarfod â’r Gorllewin Y syniad indiaidd o orllewineiddio

Trefn Nefolaidd Y syniad sineaidd o frenhiniaeth boblogaidd

Dadeni Asia Y syniad sineaidd o hunan-gryfhau

Pris am Bopeth Y syniad o theori ariannol

Breuddwyd Americanaidd Y syniad o hynodrwydd Americanaidd

Pres yn Dynn Y syniad o mercantiliaeth

Tynged Amlwg Y syniad o ehangaieth Americanaidd

Laissez-Faire Y syniad o’r farchnad rhydd

Dr. Strangelove Y syniad o arf i ddiweddu rhyfel

Unwch Weithwyr Y syniad o’r theori lafur am werth

Bydysawd Wyrdroedig Y syniad o berthynoledd

Neverland Y syniad iwtopaidd

Ansicrwydd Y syniad o wyliwr cysylltiedig

Gwella Y syniad o gynnydd

Theori Anrhefn Y syniad o anrhagweladwyedd

Glanhau’r Deml Y syniad o wrth-glerigaeth

Synnwyr Cyffredin Y syniad o bragmatistiaeth

Gorfodaeth i Fod yn Rhydd Y syniad o’r ewyllys gyffredinol

Ar eu Telerau ei Hunain Y syniad o berthynoledd diwylliedig

Y Nobel Ffyrnig Y syniad o rinwedd cyntefig

Cysgwr Y syniad o’r anymwybodol

Ni, y Bobl Y syniad o ddemocratiaeth gynrychioladol

Dyn Bach Y syniad o ddatblygiad plentyn

Gwlad yn Ymarfogi Y syniad o filwr-ddinasydd

Yn ôl i’r Sylfaenol Y syniad o ffwndamentaliaeth grefyddol

Hawliau Annhrosglwyddadwy Y syniad o hawlaiu dynol

Llawer Ffordd Y syniad o luosogaeth grefyddol

Penrhyn Asia Y syniad o ewrop

Bwyell yn y Coed Y syniad o ffasciaeth

Yr Ail Rywogaeth Y syniad o ffeministiaeth

Gwario er Mwyn cyfoeth Y syniad o economeg lles

Nifer o Gegau Y syniad o orboblogaeth

Byd Gwell Y syniad o les ar draws y byd

Os Nad yw Wedi Torri... Y syniad o geidwadaeth

Seiliau Cadarn Y syniad o drefn gymdeithasol ddigymell

Dim ond Dweud na Y syniad o anufudd-dod sifil

Sosialaeth y Gwerinwr Syniad maoaidd o gomiwnyddiaeth

Y Syniad Mawr Y syniad o ddelfrydedd

Y Ffordd i Ryddid Y syniad o ddirfodaeth

Realaeth Wedi ei Datgelu Y syniad o ladrad

Mae du yn Hardd Y syniad o falchder mewn diwylliant du

Harmoni Perffaith Y syniad o egwyddorion mewn celfyddyd

Allan o Affrica Y syniad fod dynoliaeth yn wreiddiol o Affrica

Yn ôl i Natur Y syniad o ramantaeth

Y Gadwyn Fawr Y syniad o ymdrin â chôd bywyd

Fy Ngwlad Y syniad o genedlaetholdeb

Prawf Deallusrwydd Y syniad o benderfyniaeth genetegol

Y Ty ˆ Dol Syniadau newydd am blentyndod a benywdod

Ffrydiau Tawel Y syniad o amgylcheddaeth

Optimistiaeth Eithafol Y syniad o sosialaeth

Siarad yn Gyflym Y syniad fod iaith yn gynhenid

Brwydr y Dosbarthiadau Y syniad o ddialectig hanesyddol

Y Diafol Mawr Y syniad o wrth-Americaniaeth

Y da Gorau Y syniad o lesyddiaeth

Pentref Byd-eang Y syniad o luosogaeth diwylliannol

Y Drydedd Ffordd Y syniad o sosialaeth gristnogol Mae Llai yn Fwy Y syniad o anrhefn

Artists / Artistiaid

Katie Allen Bermingham & Robinson Michael Cousin Sean Edwards Paul Emmanuel Carwyn Evans Peter Finnemore Dafydd Fortt Andy Fung S. Mark Gubb David Hastie Richard Higlett Cecile Johnson Soliz Naomi Leake Elfyn Lewis Heather and Ivan Morison David Nash Magali NougarĂ¨de Chris Nurse Rowan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill Helen Sear Miranda Whall Sue Williams Bedwyr Williams Craig Wood

Katie Allen

Firmly grounded in the traditions of the studio, Allen’s paintings are immensely seductive to the

Wedi ei gwreiddio’n gadarn yn nhraddodiadau’r stiwdio, mae

eye. They remind us of the timeless bond of art and

paentiadau Allen yn eithriadol o ddeniadol i’r llygad. Maent yn

beauty. Each is a masterful exercise in the harmonies

ein hatgoffa o’r cyswllt diamser sydd rhwng celf a harddwch. Mae

of colour, scale and form, and demonstrates a

pob un yn ymarfer feistrolgar mewn harmonïau o liw, graddfa a

remarkable visual acuity.

ffurf, ac mae nhw’n arddangos manylder gweledol hynod.

Her pictures derive from her immediate experience

Mae ei darluniau’n deillio o’i phrofiad agos o natur, ac er mor

of nature, although given the complexity of the

gymhleth y canlyniadau, mae’n baradocs pa mor anffurfiol,

results, it is a paradox how informal yet truly

ond gwirioneddol ddiamgyffred yw’r broses. Mae ymarfer

mysterious this process is. Allen’s practice is a prism

Allen yn brism, a thrwyddo mae beth sydd ‘allan yna’ yn cael ei

through which what’s ‘out there’ is refracted into

adlewyrchu i greu gweledigaeth bersonol unigryw. Mae nifer

a unique personal vision. Countless natural forms

dirifedi o ffurfiau naturiol yn cael eu torri i lawr i luniau bach

are boiled down to simple motifs, that are, each in

syml, sydd yn eu tro yn cael eu hailddefnyddio mewn cyfanwaith

their turn, re-deployed in a tight and seamlessly

tynn a reolwyd yn gelfydd. Yn arwyddocaol, mae gwahaniaethau

orchestrated whole. Significantly, subtle variations

cynnil o liw ac arlliw yn cael eu hadeiladu’n graffegol, yn

of tone and colour are built up graphically, allowing

caniatau i nifer fawr o gyfeiriadau hanesyddol a diwylliannol

for a plethora of historical and cultural references to

frwydro am sylw ar draws wyneb y darlun: mosaic a gwydr lliw,

jostle for attention across the picture plane: mosaic

minaturau Persaidd ac Indiaidd, caligraffi Arabaidd, symbolaeth

and stained glass, Persian and Indian miniatures,

Rwsaidd, art deco Vienaidd, seicedelia’r 70au.

Arabic calligraphy, Russian symbolism, Viennese art

Mae’n anodd dychmygu’r tirweddau yma fel llefydd real.

deco, 70s psychedelia.

Efallai mai’r rhain yw’r tirweddau a’r golyfeydd delfrydol yn y

It is hard to conceive of these landscapes as real

meddwl. Cefndiroedd ydynt i straeon tylwyth-teg. Foddbynnag,

places. They are perhaps the idealized landscapes

yn wahanol i stori dylwyth teg go iawn, nid ydynt yn cynnwys

and vistas of the mind. They are backdrops to

unrhyw foeswers, ac felly’n arddangos rhyw benbleth fodern

fairytales. However, unlike a proper fairytale, they

iawn yr ydym i gyd yn rhan ohoni, rhwng tirwedd a beirianwyd

appear to contain no moral, thus demonstrating a

yn y meddwl, ac un a beirianwyd mewn realaeth ymarferol. (AP)

very modern indecision in which we all have a stake, between a landscape engineered in the mind, and one engineered in practical reality. (AP) Give me a Sign The idea of symbols The Vision Thing The idea of communicating with the spirit world Picture This The idea of artistic representation Lords of Creation The idea of re-shaping nature Conquering Death The idea of eternal monuments Dreamtime The idea that the world is an illusion The New Illusion The idea that reality is unknowable All Change The idea of a dynamic universe Lightning Flash The idea of illumination Sacred Art The idea of icons

Rhowch Ardwydd i Mi Y syniad o symbolau Y Peth Gweledigaeth Yna Y syniad o gyfathrebu â’r byd ysbrydol Dychmygwch Hyn Y syniad o gynrychiolaeth artistig Duwiau’r Creu Y syniad o ail-ffurfio natur Gorchfygu Marwolaeth Y syniad o gofgolofnau bythol Amser Breuddwydio Y syniad fod y byd yn rhith Yr Hudoliaeth Newydd Y syniad nad yw realaeth yn wybodol Pawb i Newid Y synaid o fydysawd ddeinamig Golau Mellt Y syniad o oleuni Celfyddyd Gysegredig Y syniad o eiconau

Autumnal Arboretum, 2009 Acrylic on board Acrylig ar fwrdd

Kefalonian Landscape, 2009 Acrylic on board Acrylig ar fwrdd

between fine and applied arts, as well as the familiarity and banality of the unrem between fine and applied arts, as well as the

Bermingham & Robinson

In the collaborative works of Bermingham & Robinson the tensions between hobbyist-artist;

Yng ngweithiau cydweithrediadol Bermingham a Robinson

adult-child; masculine-feminine, tradition-modernity

mae’r tensiynnau rhwng arlunydd-hobiwr, oedolyn-plentyn,

are explored in detail. Often employing a child-like

gwrywaidd-benywaidd, traddodiad-moderniaeth, i gyd yn

playfulness – utilising some of the props and symbols

cael eu harchwilio yn fanwl. Mae nhw yn aml yn ddefnyddio

associated with youthful innocence – they set up

rhyw chwarae plentynaidd, yn defnyddio props a symbolau

contradictions that puncture the nostalgia with a

yn gysylltiedig â diniwieidrwydd ieuenctid i sefydlu

sharp dose of chaos and melancholy.

gwrthgyferbyniadau sydd yn tyllu’r hiraeth gyda dôs sydyn o

Recurrence plays a large part in their recent works

anrhefn a melancoli.

and repetitive (and often traditional) acts and

Mae ail-adrodd yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn eu gwaith diweddar,

pastimes such as sewing, playing, cross-stitching,

ac mae gweithredau ail-adroddus (ac yn aml yn draddodiadol)

sequential sketching and mark making, become

a hobiau megis gwnïo, chwarae, croes-bwytho, braslunio

a metaphor for the artists’ disappointment with

trefniadol a gwneud marciau, yn dod yn drosiad am siom yr

contemporary life. In contrast to the optimism of

arlunwyr mewn bywyd cyfoes. Mewn cyferbyniad i obaith eu

their youth – where Tomorrow’s-World-technology

hieuenctid – lle roedd ‘technoleg yfory’ yn addo datrys holl

promised to solve all the world’s ills – modern life

ddrygioni’r byd – mae bywyd modern yn dod â rhyw siom

brings about a certain disappointment as it plays

bendant fel y mae’n mynd dros yr un hen broblemau, gofidiau

over the same problems, anxieties and challenges

a sialensau drosodd a throsodd: rhyfel, trasiedi, ac ofn ‘y peth

again and again: war, tragedy, fear of the ‘other’ and

arall hwnnw’ a marwoldeb.

mortality.

Wrth weithio’n gydweithrediadol ymddengys Bermingham a

In working collaboratively, Bermingham & Robinson

Robinson eu bod yn rhoi eu hunain drwy rhyw hunan-arholiad.

seem to put themselves through a detailed means of

Mae eu gwaith yn caniatau i ni glustfeinio ar eu cyfathrebu

self-examination. Their works present us with a kind

llaw-fer, mynwesol a chreadigol. Trwy hyn meant yn aml, a bron

of unedited dialogue that allows us to eavesdrop on

heb feddwl, yn creu math o hunan-bortread – mae eu gweithiau

their shorthand, intimate, creative communication.

yn aml yn ymddangos mewn parau – fel y maent yn ceisio

Through this they frequently, almost involuntarily,

diffinio pwy ydynt a beth maent yn ei wneud; mae nhw’n mapio

create a kind of self-portrait – their works often

eu lle mewn diwylliant gyfoes. (HF)

appear in pairs – as they seek to define who they are and what they are doing; mapping their position in contemporary culture. (HF) Parting The Mist The idea that our senses can be deluded The Curse of Work The idea of the work-leisure divide Nothing Matters The idea of a purposeless world Neverland The utopian idea Getting Better The idea of progress The Doll’s House New ideas of childhood and womanhood The Great Chain The idea of manipulating the code of life

Gwahanu’r Niwl Y syniad y gall ein syniadau gael eu twyllo Melltith Gwaith Y syniad o’r rhaniad rhwng gwaith/hamdden Does dim yn Cyfri Y syniad o fyd dibwrpas Neverland Y syniad iwtopaidd Gwella Y syniad o gynnydd Y Tyˆ Dol Syniadau newydd am blentyndod a benywdod Y Gadwyn Fawr Y syniad o ymdrin â chôd bywyd

The Den Project, 2008 Sculpture Studio Residency, Chapter, Cardiff Preswyliad Stiwdio Cerflunio, Chapter, Caerdydd

False Beards, 2010 Museum dust from underneath a series of sculptures Llwch amgueddfa a gafwyd o dan gyfres o gerfluniau

The Den Project, 2008 En Residencia, Asturias, Spain, 2009 En Residencia, Asturias, Sbaen, 2009

Michael Cousin

Broadly dealing with the idea of fiction in both sound and imagery, still or moving, Cousin’s work

Gan ddelio’n fras â’r syniad o ffuglen mewn sain a delweddaeth,

hinges on the assumptions that we make when we

boed yn llonydd neu yn symudol, mae gwaith Cousin yn

think we know what we see and hear. His natural

dibynnu ar y tybiaethau a wnawn wrth feddwl ein bod yn

domain lies at the visual end of what used to be

gwybod beth a welwn ac a glywn. Yn y rhan weledol o beth

called the ‘mass media’, at a time when magazine

elwid yn ‘gyfryngau torfol’ y mae ei diriogaeth naturiol, ar

photography, tape recording and cine-film editing

adeg pan oedd ffotograffiaeth cylchgrawn, recordio tâp a

were genteel enough for anyone to be able to spot

golygu ffilm-cine i gyd yn ddigon ffasiynnol i unrhyw un allu

a fake. A moment in time for which the high water

gweld ffugwaith. Un funud fach mewn amser, lle gallasai

mark may well have been Kennedy’s assassination

llofruddiaeth Kennedy yn 1968 fod yn uchafbwynt. Byd yn

in 1968. A world filled with celluloid film, cow

llawn o ffilm seliwloid, ‘cow gum’, letraset, argraffiadau bromid

gum, letraset, bromide prints and other, now

ac arall, offer sydd gan amlaf yn segur ac at ddefnydd y cysodwr

largely redundant tools at the disposal of the visual

gweledol.

compositor.

Mae Cousin yn ddifrifol ymwybodol o mor ddychrynllyd

Acutely aware of the frightening speed with which

o gyflym y mae technolegau newydd wedi amharu ar ein

our new technologies have comprehensively

hymarfer, ac mae ei ffilmiau a’i ddarnau sain yn ymgeisiadau

muddied these waters, his films and sound pieces

dewr i arafu’r broses hon, ac i gyrraedd beth sydd yna o ddifrif.

are valiant efforts to slow down that speed and

Beth sy’ gwneud hyn yn unigryw yw’r ffordd y mae ein hofnau

get to what’s really there. What makes this unique

cymdeithasol a rannwn ond na fyddwn yn aml yn siarad

is the way that our shared, and often unspoken,

amdanynt, yn cael eu harwain ganddo yma. Mae ei weithiau

societal fears are orchestrated by him in this.

yn fyr ac yn hawdd i edrych arnynt, ac yn ddiweddarach yn

Short and easy to look at, his works unfold later in

datblygu yn y meddwl, i ddod yn araf yn glymau Gordaidd

the mind to gradually become tight little Gordian

bychan o gynllwyn a gwrth-gynllwyn.

knots of conspiracy and counter-conspiracy.

Ar ôl llofruddiaeth Kennedy arferai pobl ofyn i’w gilydd

After Kennedy’s assassination people often used

beth oeddant yn ei wneud pan ddigwyddodd hyn. Mae gwaith

to ask each other what they were doing when it

Cousin yn datgan yn galonnog y bydd pobl, yn y dyfodol, ar

happened. Cousin’s work affirms wholeheartedly

ôl 9/11, yn gofyn i’w gilydd beth oeddant yn edrych arno pan

that, in the future, after 9/11, people will be asking

ddigwyddodd hyn. (AP)

each other what they were looking at when it happened. (AP) Eating People The idea of cannibalism Parting the Mist The idea that our senses can be deluded No Mercy The idea of massacre Universal Rule The idea of one-world government Man is the Measure The idea that truth is relative Power of Thought The idea that thought alone created the universe Hero Inside The idea of the superman Brother Knows Best The idea of the unchallengeable state Uncertainty The idea of the implicated observer Common Sense The idea of pragmatism

Bwyta Pobl Y syniad o ganibaliaeth Gwahanu’r Niwl Y syniad y gall ein syniadau gael eu twyllo Dim Trugaredd Y syniad o laddfa Rheolaeth Gyffredinol Y syniad o lywodraeth un-byd Dyn yw’r Mesur Y syniad fod gwirionedd yn berthynol Grym Meddwl Y syniad mai meddwl yn unig a greodd y bydysawd Arwr tu Mewn Y syniad o superman Brawd sy’n Gwybod Orau Y syniad o’r wladwriaeth anamheus Ansicrwydd Y syniad o wyliwr cysylltiedig Synnwyr Cyffredin Y syniad o bragmatistiaeth

H1N1, 2009 High Definition CGI film Ffilm diffiniad uchel o ddelweddaeth a wnaethpwyd ar gyfrifiadur (CGI)

Plat du Jour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Starter, 2009 Decal printed on ceramic plate Decal wedi ei brintio ar blat cerameg

Plat du Jour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Main Course, 2009 Decal printed on ceramic plate Decal wedi ei brintio ar blat cerameg

Sean Edwards

The starting point for Sean Edwards’ work is often the trace of previous activity and these found,

Mae man cychwyn gwaith Sean Edwards yn aml yn amlinell

borrowed, recycled and re-appropriated objects

o weithgarwch blaenorol, ac mae’r pethau yma a ganfu, a

offer up a formal and rigorous investigation into the

fenthycodd, ail-gylchodd ac a ail-feddiannodd, yn cynnig

sculptural potential of the seemingly everyday. His

ymchwiliad ffurfiol a thrylwyr i botensial cerflunaidd o’r

works are underpinned by an enchanting exactness.

hyn sy’n ymddangos yn gyffredin. Mae ei weithiau yn cael ei

The objects that he uses – rolling pins, plastic bags,

sylfaenu gan gywirdeb cyfareddol. Mae’r gwrthrychau mae’n

cardboard corners, coloured tape – are scarce,

eu defnyddio – rholbrennau, bagiau plastig, corneli cardfwrdd,

pared back and careful. In exhibition, these works

tâp lliw – yn bethau prin, wedi eu twtio, yn bethau gofalus.

are placed together in seemingly random formations

Mewn arddangosfa mae’r gweithiau hyn yn cael eu gosod gyda’i

that serve to challenge the precision in the individual

gilydd mewn ffurfiant sydd yn ymddangos ar hap, sydd yn

objects themselves. These composed environments

herio’r manylder yn y gwerthrychau unigol eu hunain. Mae’r

comprise multiple elements that often respond

amgylcheddau cyfansoddedig yma yn cynnwys elfennau lluosog

directly to the specifics of a given space where

sydd yn aml yn ymateb yn uniongyrchol i nodweddion lle

works are held in tension between form and context.

penodol lle mae gweithiau mewn tensiwn rhwng ffurf a chyd-

Invariably this offers a sense of incompleteness or

destyn. Mae hyn bob tro yn rhoi’r syniad o fod yn anorffenadwy

open-endedness that triggers a widening range of

neu yn benagored, sydd yn tanio rhyw ystod ehangol o

associations that generously invites the viewer in to

gysylltiadau sydd yn rhoi gwahoddiad hael i’r gwyliwr i chwarae

play their part in the construction of its meaning and

ei ran yn adeiladwaith ei ystyr a’i gwblhad. (HF)

completion. (HF) Around the Clock The idea of measuring time The Family Silver The idea of transmitting status by heredity Conquering Death The idea of eternal monuments The Great Void The idea of nothing One in Substance The Christian idea of the trinity Getting Better The idea of progress Reality Unveiled The idea of abstraction Back to Nature The idea of romanticism Uncertainty The idea of the implicated observer Sleeper The idea of the unconscious

Rownd y Cloc Y syniad o fesur amser Pethau Arian y Teulu Y syniad o drosglwyddo statws trwy etifeddiaeth Gorchfygu Marwolaeth Y syniad o gofgolofnau bythol Y Gwagle Mawr Y syniad o ddim Un Mewn Sylwedd Y syniad Cristnogol o’r drindod Gwella Y syniad o gynnydd Realaeth Wedi ei Datgelu Y syniad o ladrad Yn ôl i Natur Y syniad o ramantiaeth Ansicrwydd Y syniad o wyliwr cysylltiedig Cysgwr Y syniad o’r anymwybodol

Nebraska CBS 25100, 2009 Ink in notebook Inc mewn llyfryn nodiadau

Practice Table, 2009 Mixed media sculpture Installation view: Institute of Contemporary Arts, London Cerflun cyfrwng cymysg Golygfa Gosodiad: Sefydliad y Celfyddydau Cyfoes, Llundain