Swansea Stories exhibition preview

Swansea celebrated its 50th birthday as a city in style today when I opened a special exhibition at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery of 320 artworks. Swansea Stories is the largest selection of the gallery's permanent collection ever displayed. It has been curated by the staff at the Glynn Vivian and has taken months to plan.

The collection, which belongs to the people of Swansea, in housed in this beautiful purpose-built gallery, and includes works from the 18th century to modern times. It represents the diversity in the collection.

In the Atrium the many faces of Swansea were on display including portraits of the rich and famous such as opera singer, Adelina Patti, the poet Vernon Watkins and past Lord Mayors, and its workers such as miners, cockle pickers and dockworkers.

The Swansea Favourites section are works which people ask to see most often, either through conversations with the staff or through audience surveys and via the website. These include some of the most famous works by internationally renowned artists such as Gwen John, French impressionists Claude Monet and Lucien Pissarro, and a sculpture of the footballer, Diego Maradona made by over 100 children from Penlan Boys School.

The exhibition presents an eclectic and unique portrait of Swansea, and of the changing landscape that has inspired artists for centuries.  The pictures feature the steep hills of the city centre, the surrounding landscapes of Townhill, Mayhill, Mumbles and Dunvant, and the beautiful coastline. It is well worth visiting.