Project/Ten’s Third Pop-up Exhibition
In conjunction with Cardiff Design Festival
Your appreciation of art really depends on your interpretation of it. I live with a designer, who sees art everywhere; from the shoes on his feet to the coffee cup on his desk. I’m not part of that school of thought; I look at art, like I listen to music, I either like it or I don’t. That being said here are my thoughts on Project/Ten’s Third Pop-up Exhibition which was displayed in Cardiff recently. Despite only a small amount of floor space, there was a large variety of great work on display at the Hayes based gallery.
First to catch my eye were Debbie Smyth’s nail and thread creations. At first glance, they appeared simplistic, but on closer inspection you could see the fantastic detail achieved through the imaginative medium. Jon Oakes canvases were also excellent; his vivid use of colour and expression created absorbing images with a fascinating narrative quality.
I was less impressed with Ben Lloyd’s work. I found his collages very interesting, but his Lego ‘Uzi’ left me cold. I’m sure there is a deeper meaning behind his more obscure work, perhaps a musing of childhood violence or something like that, but if I did suddenly find new respect for such an item, I’d rather buy a £12 box of Lego and see what my ten year old nephew could come up with, rather than pay the £750 his ‘Uzi’ is on sale for.
Finally, designer Osian Batyka-Williams creations made from materials sourced from reclamation yards were technically amazing but aesthetically challenging. I respected the work, but I can’t say I enjoyed looking at it. Project/Ten is a great place to go for an ‘art experience’. The staff are incredibly welcoming and more than happy to explain any of the work on display. I would definitely recommend popping in to see what they have on show next time you’re in the city centre.