#93: Offline Journal Newsletter: 7 Apr '25

Photography news and events across Wales in April

Brian Carroll

Apr 07, 2025

Hello again

Here’s an update on the many things happening in photography during April in Wales!

Be sure to check the ‘Exhibitions & Events’ tab for full listings of what’s happening across Wales.

Brian

GWAITH MERCHED / WOMEN’S WORK

GWAITH MERCHED / WOMEN’S WORK, a new exhibition by Viv Collis at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, presents a mix of contemporary and historic images of women working in Wales.

A former Youth & Community Worker in Swansea, Viv Collis went on to study a BA in Documentary Photography, followed by an MA in Photography (Contemporary Dialogues) at Swansea College of Art. Her extensive community involvement influences her work, and her practice focuses on social documentary, often exploring the representation of people.

The images, both contemporary and archival seek to challenge perceptions around what might be considered as women’s work. It emerges from an ongoing exploration of women’s working contexts and identities in Wales.
Photography and photographic archives provide a powerful means of supporting this kind of exploration. The women depicted range from tinplate workers in Pontardulais to a modern day arborist.
– Artist statement

GWAITH MERCHED
Viv Collis
8 March - 7 September 2025
National Waterfront Museum, Swansea SA1 3RD
museum.wales/swansea

DAVID HURN AWARD

First Minister Eluned Morgan presenting the award to David Hurn. Image by Ceri Jackson

Photographer David Hurn was named winner of the St David Culture award 2025 at a recent celebration in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

The St David Awards are the national awards of Wales with nominees put forward by the public. This Culture award follows Hurn’s other recent award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism at the Welsh Media Awards in November 2024.

David Hurn and author/cultural historian Richard King will discuss Wales and Hurn’s forthcoming book at The Hay Festival on Saturday 31 May…

Speaking to broadcaster Ceri Jackson, they discuss their collaboration on Wales, As Is, a book of Hurn’s photographs accompanied by text from King. They consider the landscape of Wales, interpreting the land and contemporary Welsh society.
– Hay Festival

www.hayfestival.com

www.gov.wales/st-david-awards

MOHAMED HASSAN @ G39 in Cardiff

Photographer Mohamed Hassan will be in Cardiff for the opening event of G39 Gallery’s new ‘FANATIC’ exhibition on 17 April.

Rather than showing prints in this new group exhibition with eight other artists, Hassan will be screening a video with ambient soundtrack of previously unseen images from a visit to his home in Egypt.

FANATIC
What is your personal specialist subject? We all have particular things that we are alert to, things we are fans of, the collections, repetitions, accumulations of experiences or objects that run parallel with our everyday lives.
We’ve brought nine artists together to respond to this prompt, with new works and existing collections.
– G39 website

G39 is based in a very accessible warehouse space near the junction of City Road and Newport Road in Cardiff (to the rear of The Ernest Willows/JD Wetherspoon pub) - so an ideal opportunity to meet up in the gallery and grab a drink and chat afterwards if you can make it along next Thursday evening.

Mohamed Hassan’s first and highly personal photobook titled ‘OUR HIDDEN ROOM’ will be published in late May and has been selected as a winner in Belfast Photo Festival’s 2025 Open Submission.

FANATIC
Mohamed Hassan (video) / Group Exhibition
19 April - 14 June 2025 (**Launch 6-9pm Thursday 17 April**)
G39 Gallery, Cardiff CF24 3DT
g39.org

CONTEMPORARY WELSH MINERS

With his work included in National Museum Cardiff’s STREIC! 84-85 STRIKE! and his FAMILY OF BLAENAFON exhibition in Blaenavon Workmens Hall, photographer Walter Waygood has published a new book titled CONTEMPORARY WELSH MINERS.

Working in partnership with the Brian Lewis Manager of Big Pit National Coal Museum, National Museum of Wales, the book features images from a larger project recording Miners Memoirs and imagery of the Culture and Heritage of the South Wales Coalfield over the past 50 years.

The new book costs £9.99 (P&P included) via payment to the photographer’s Paypal account: walterwaygood@btinternet.com – just forward your name and address for postage.

walterwaygood.com

ELVIS & ELVIES IN NEWPORT

CLWB FFOTO in Newport have announced their second exhibition which will feature recent work by photographer RON McCORMICK.

‘DAYZ OUT IN PORTHCAWL’ has McCormick observe the annual Porthcawl Elvis Festival in full colour, getting up close and personal with the many thousands of Elvis Presley fans and tribute performers who make the annual pilgrimage to the seaside town of Porthcawl.

The exhibition opens 6pm Saturday 26 April 2025 - all welcome

DAYZ OUT IN PORTHCAWL
Ron McCormick
26 April - 7 June 2025 (**Opens 6pm Saturday 26 April**)
Clwb Ffoto, Newport Arcade, Newport NP20 1GD
www.clwbffoto.com

For your event diary…