Peter Finnemore is one of Wales’s leading contemporary artists. He is best known for his video and photographic works which he has exhibited throughout Wales and internationally.
In this special screening between 12 December 2009 and 7 February 2010, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is showing a number of recent acquisitions to its collection. All five works on show were made in 2004 and 2005 and include several which were screened as part of his installation at the Venice Biennale 2005 including Eve of Destruction (2004), Tailspin (2005) and Armageddon (2005); these three short films are shown on a single screen alongside two additional works entitled Rock Music (2004) and Forest Fire (2004). The exhibition also includes a five screen film installation entitled Birdwatcher.
A recurring and important image throughout all of these works is the location in which the action takes place; his family house and garden in West Wales. As well as including his home, garden and the artist himself, his films sometimes feature family members, friends and pets.
Finnemore begins his work from a location, landscape and history he knows well, from a seemingly local perspective, and from the myths, memories, present and past embedded in this specific landscape. But whilst the films comment on the artists place in the world, this local outlook is firmly grounded within a global perspective – an understanding of the ways in which our individual identities are shaped by a complex combination of both local and global references. Through his work, Finnemore reminds us that identity is complex and in constant state of flux, and is made up of everything we see around us.
In these films, Finnemore shows that there are no longer any clear distinctions between local/global, nature/culture, personal/political rather, a never-ending stream of references determine who we are as individuals and as cultures. Ultimately these seriously funny and often sublime films are thoroughly captivating, inspiring and uplifting.
Peter Finnemore lives and works in Wales. Major solo exhibitions include Gwendraeth House, Ffotogallery (2001) and Zen Gardener, Oriel Mostyn Gallery (2004). He has also exhibited his work internationally and in 2005 represented Wales at the Venice Biennale of art in the exhibition Somewhere Else, Artists from Wales alongside Laura Ford, Paul Granjon and Bedwyr Williams.
He has won a number of prizes including the Gold Medal at the National Eisteddfod in 2005. He has work in a number of public collections in the UK and the USA including the Contemporary Art Society of Wales, Cardiff, Scottish Arts Council, Edinburgh, The Arts Council Collection, Hayward Gallery, London, Oriel Mostyn Collection, Llandudno, and Orchard Education Centre, Hamilton, Scotland.
Glynn Vivian Gallery is supported by Arts Council of Wales.
