An illustrated examination of the complex and diverse pattern woven by art, culture and society in Wales, comprising 14 critical essays on various aspects of Welsh art by 11 experts in the field , together with short biographical notes on each contributor. 32 colour and 92 black-and-white illustrations, images and photographs by various Welsh artists.

Astudiaeth ddarluniadol o amrywiaeth a chymhlethdod y gyd-berthynas rhwng celf, diwylliant a chymdeithas yng Nghymru, yn cynnwys 14 ysgrif feirniadol ar amryfal agweddau o gelf yng Nghymru gan 11 arbenigwr yn y maes, ynghyd â nodiadau bywgraffyddol byr am bob cyfrannwr. 32 darlun lliw a 92 o ddarluniau du-a-gwyn gan artistiaid Cymreig amrywiol.

Bala is big on 'cultural specificity', a phrase which he returns to several times as a sort of touchstone, or talisman. This notion seems to be predicated on the belief that there are shared assumptions, about 'Welshness' and cultural identity, which unite the artists in this book, however varied the actual appearance of their work or their differing formal concerns. The illustrated examples are certainly a mixed bag, not least in the quality of their reproduction. Particularly badly treated in this respect is Tim Davies, whose installations appear both cramped and blurred. Painters Peter Prendergast and Brendan Stuart Burns, colourists both, though in very different ways, are dealt with in couple of black and whites. As for the essays, the quality is just as variable: a very informative piece by Tony Curtis on the artists of the South Wales valleys; an illuminating insight by Martin Barlow into the work of Bethan Huws; and an eloquent, personal postscript by John Barnie. But where the artists themselves are given a free hand there is too much wool-gathering and not a little self-aggrandisement. More disturbing is the book’s underlying assumption that polemic expressed through visual media is synonymous with ‘art’, and that its makers are de facto artists.

Rex Harley

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.