Glynn Vivian, Swansea

Until Sun 23 Apr

If you’re interested in the history of photography and its links to Swansea, then this is a perfect exhibition for you. The Moon and a Smile is an exhibition commissioned by Glynn Vivian, which invited nine international artists to respond to the photographs and photographic techniques of some of the pioneers of photography who hailed from Swansea.

In January 1839, Swansea local, John Dillwyn Llewellyn, who went on to found the Royal Photographic Society, met Henry Fox Talbot, one of the first British photographers. Henry encouraged John and his sister Mary, who is believed to be the first female photographer in Wales, to experiment with different photographic techniques.

By 1856, John had perfected his own technique, the oxymel process, which allowed negatives to be prepared in advance and developed up to a fortnight later. The Dillwyn’s family interest, innovation and scientific advancement of photography, allowed the industrial copper town of Swansea to become the centre of arts and photography world of the 1840s and 1850s.

The young pair also took much inspiration from Swansea’s rolling landscapes, the gardens at Penllergare, the estate they inherited from their father, and John by his young growing family and these feature prominently in their photography. As an exhibition, The Moon and a Smile responds to this period, where the act of both capturing and preserving images was being debated and questioned and presents a modern perspective alongside their Victorian counterparts.

Interestingly, the gallery in which the photography is displayed is a piece of history in itself. Glynn Vivian owned the biggest copper works in Swansea, but unlike his brothers who took over the family business, Glynn was fascinated by the arts and went to study it at Cambridge. After travelling extensively, he returned to Swansea where he housed his growing art collection.

He was particularity interested in collecting pieces from around the world, especially ceramics and this is reflected in the current collection. When Glynn’s health started to fail, he became a philanthropist and donated his collection of art to a purpose-built gallery, which was, and still is owned by the people of Swansea.

Admission: Free. Info: 017 9251 6900 / www.glynnvivian.com

words ELOUISE HOBBS