By Ellie Evans
Born in Haverfordwest, the Welsh artist, Gwendolen “Gwen” Mary John (1876–1939) was a pioneer for women in art and remains a cornerstone of Welsh modernism. Celebrating her 150th birthday, Cardiff National Museum are hosting an exhibition ‘Gwen John: Strange Beauties’ showcasing “rarely seen works” all the way from Pembrokeshire to the USA.
Beginning on the 7th of February and running up until June 28th, the exhibition reframes John’s legacy on her own terms as a serious artist.
With tickets ranging from £10 to £16, you will need to book in advance to visit the “once-in-a generation” exhibition.
Offering slow art in a fast-paced world, this exhibition acts as an antidote to our culture built on constructing spectacle in urgency.
John utilises stillness as a form of resistance where the absence of spectacle becomes the statement.
This exhibition forced me to slow down, simultaneously reminding me how unfamiliar stillness and solitude have become in the current art industry dominated by maximalism.
Famous for her attentive interpretations of anonymous women, she refuses to shout or perform in her work, opting instead to invoke stillness through muted tones and subdued brushstrokes.
Letting the paintings speak for themselves, they somehow still feel refreshingly relevant today as they relate to modern discourse surrounding female autonomy.
Jeanne Foster, a model of John, revealed that when modelling for her, you could “feel the absorption of her personality”.
John reflected her own experiences through her paintings, using them as a guide in discovering her own identity.
Capturing this psychological intensity, her subjects do not perform for the gaze of the viewer; instead, they exist.
Whether you are already an admirer of John or if you simply wish to expand your knowledge of art history, Strange Beauties is the perfect exhibition to dive into the Victorian period through the eyes of an extraordinary artist who “saw the world differently”.
Regardless of your preference in art, you will undoubtedly leave Strange Beauties inspired to look closer and to slow down.