From May to November 2017, the Cardiff artist James Richards will be representing Wales and creating pieces at the arts organisation Venice Biennale. The event that runs every two years showcases talent from around the world and it is the 8th year that Wales has been included since their introduction in 2003.
Richards is widely known in the art world, with developing international success, exhibitions and being nominated for a Turner prize in 2014, a prize that is awarded to British visual artists, for his Rosebud video. Richards concentrates on sound, video and still images to create various styles of pieces including live events, original and found video material, musical and sculptural installations. All these different elements of Richards work present his concentration on the idea of mass media, information and the personal that will be the focus of his Biennale exhibition. Roberts will shortly be heading to Venice to survey the building where his art will be displayed. Studying the space will determine what he will create for the exhibition to have visitors’ better feel and experience his art by being able to walk through different aspects of his work. His power of images and sound produce the layers and intensity of his work and the repetition and audio create an experience that art enthusiast are sure to not forget.
He is represented by Rodeo Gallery and Lux and his presentation will be curated by Chapter Arts Gallery. Information about the Venice Biennale will be kept secret until the event but in the mean time Richards has revealed his focuses for the project. The music that surrounds his pieces will be composed by him and other musicians that he has begun working with and he will shortly be experimenting and coming up with his exhibition pieces. The dedication and concentration that Richards gives to his work proves why he has been chosen for the Venice Biennale. His skills as a visual artists is different and unique and perfectly shows the contemporary edge talent that he has as well as presenting Wales as a country of artistic creativity.
James Richards, Venice Biennale, May- November 2017.
