Publications on Performance Art in Wales

books : chapters : journals : newspapers : artists' material : audio-visual

Adams, Hugh. Imaging Wales. Bridgend: Seren, 2003.
[*includes a critical essay by Hugh Adams on contemporary visual art in Wales, in which he proposes that 'visual performance has always been very strong in Wales' (p. 27). Also includes profiles of performance artists Simon Mitchell, Marc Rees, André Stitt, and those whose work has an affinity with performance such as Tim Davies and Peter Finnemore. Also lists contact addresses for spaces and networks.].

Adams, Hugh, ed. Re:Imaging Wales - a Yearbook of the Visual Arts. Bridgend: Seren, 2006.
[*includes profiles of performance artists Phil Babot, Stefhan Caddick, Eve Dent, Paul Granjon, Paul Hurley, Paul + Paula, Jennie Savage, Bedwyr Williams; reports on 'What's Welsh for performance' and 'SHIFTwork' research projects; essays on Artist's Networks, including Ointment, and Wales in Venice, including work by P. Granjon and B. Williams].

Arnatt, Keith. Rubbish and Recollections (Exhibitions Catalogue). Llandudno: Oriel Mostyn, 1989.
[*includes a reproduction of Self-Burial (Tintern 1969) and a discussion of the work in an essay by Ian Walker).

Bala, Iwan, ed. Certain Welsh Artists. Bridgend: Seren, 1999.
[* includes an essay by Ivor Davies (especially on his contribution to the Destruction in Art Symposium London 1966 and the Beca Group) and an essay by Shelagh Hourahane on mapping which focuses on Paul Davies (especially on his Welsh Not action at the Eisteddfod 1977 and his Mud Map of Wales at the Eisteddfod 1986)].

---. Here + Now: Essays on Contemporary Art in Wales. Bridgend: Seren, 2003.
[*includes an essay on André Stitt and an essay on 'art outside the gallery', which discusses performative works by Rawley Clay and Peter Finnemore.].

---. ed. Groundbreaking - the Artist in the Changing Landscape. Bridgend: Seren, 2005.
[*documentation of the work of Cywaith Cymru, including Cywaith's Eisteddfodau commissions by artists André Stitt, Marc Rees, Bedwyr Williams, Peter Finnemore, David Hastie, and others].

Breakwell, Ian. Continuous Diary and Related Works 1965-1978 (Exhibition Catalogue). Glasgow: Scottish Arts Council and Third Eye Centre, 1978.
[*exhibition also travelled to Chapter Arts Centre Cardiff; catalogue includes images of UNWORD 4 , Swansea 1970].

Breakwell, Ian. Textworks 1966-1999 (Exhibition Catalogue; Essays by Colin Rhodes). Loughborough: Loughborough University, School of Art and Design, 1999.
[*survey of Ian Breakwell's text works, including UNWORD 4 in Swansea 1970; also includes description by the artist of UNWORD 2 at the ICA].

Christie, Judie, Richard Gough, and Daniel Watt, eds. A Performance Cosmology: Testimony from the Future, Evidence of the Past. London: Routledge, 2006.
[*documentation of 30 years of Cardiff Laboratory Theatre/ Centre for Performance Research; includes numerous essays on performance theory by leading scholars].

Coult, Tony and Baz Kershaw, eds. Engineers of the Imagination: The Welfare State Handbook. London: Methuen, 1990.
[*includes a chronology of the company's work, which also lists several performances in Wales, including Earthrise in Swansea 1971, and ceremonies in Aberystwyth and Cardiff 1973].

Davies, Hazel Walford. Now You're Talking: Drama in Conversation. Bridgend: Parthian, 2005.
[*includes a conversation with playwright Ed Thomas about his installation/performance project with Iwan Bala, Hiraeth (1993)].

Davies, Tim, and David Greenslade. Yr Wyddor. Llandysul: Gwasg Gomer, 1995.

Duguet, Anne Marie, Heinrich Klotz, and Peter Weibel, eds. Jeffrey Shaw - a User's Manual. From Expanded Cinema to Virtual Reality, Exhibition Catalogue. Graz: Ostfildern, 1997.
[*contains discussion and b/w photograph of Jeffrey Shaw's Smokescreen in Swansea 1969; p. 64-5].

Dunthorne, Kristine Brander. Artists Exhibiting in Wales 1945-75. Cardiff: Welsh Arts Council, 1976.
[*directory with entries on Shirley Cameron, Ivor Davies, John Gingell, Andrew Walton, Islwyn Watkins].

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. Arddangosfa Celfyddydau Gweledol. Casnewydd a'r Cylch: Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru / Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, 2004.
[* catalogue of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition at the National Eisteddfod Newport 2004, which included performance work by Phil Babot, Richard Morgan and Matt Cook.].

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Frenhinol Cymru. Y Rhaglen Swyddogol. Wrescam a'r Cylch: Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Frenhinol Cymru, 1977.
[* official programme of the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham 1977].

Ford, Simon. Wreckers of Civilisation: The Story of Coum Transmissions & Throbbing Gristle. London: Black Dog, 1999.
[*includes listing of COUM Transmissions' performance Ministry & Colliche at Swansea University Arts Festival 1973].

Henri, Adrian. Environments and Happenings. The World of Art Library - New Directions. London: Thames and Hudson, 1974.
[*study on environments and happenings in the 1960s and 1970s; with discussions of the works of Shirley Cameron and Roland Miller and Rob Con; contains b/w image of Cameron and Miller's Railway Images 1970 (p. 121) Cyclamen Cyclists Swansea Docks 1971 (pp. 126-7); Rob Con The White Men 1970 (p.124) and Liquid Boots (1969) (p.125)].

Hourahane, Shelagh. A Mare in a Grey Sheet - Paul Davies. Wrexham, 1998.

Howell, Anthony. The Analysis of Performance Art - a Guide to Its Theory and Practice.( Contemporary Theatre Studies. Ed. Franc Chamberlain). Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1999.

Lippard, Lucy. Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997 (1973).
[*p.119: lists Keith Arnatt's Self Burial (1969), although gives its location as 'Tintern, England [sic!]').

Nuttall, Jeff. Performance Art Memoirs. London & Dallas: John Calder in association with Riverrun Press, 1979.
[* includes description and drawing of an action by The New Fol de Rols in Cardiff 1970].

Parry-Crooke, Charlotte, ed. Contemporary British Artists (with Photographs by Saranjeet Walia). London: Bergstrom + Boyle Books, 1979.
[*directory of British artists; contains entries and photographs of Shirley Cameron and Roland Miller; includes b/w portrait photograph and 2 b/w photos of performances, among them Celebration of Pre-metrication 1979 Performance at Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea].

Rainbird, Sean. Joseph Beuys and the Celtic World. London: Tate Publishing, 2005.
[*includes mention of Beuys' participation in the National Eisteddfod Wrexham 1977].

Rolfe, Nigel. Archive. Dublin: Irish Museum of Modern Art, 1994.
[*includes reproductions of invitations to Nigel Rolfe's performances at Chapter Arts Centre in June 1978].

Roms, Heike. What's Welsh for Performance? An Oral History of Performance Art in Wales (vol. 1) . Cardiff: Samizdat Press, 2008.
[*Interviews with Ivor Davies, Shirley Cameron & Roland Miller, T.E.Jones, J.C.Jones & A.Knight, and Anthony Howell]. [buy a copy]

Rowan, Eric. Art in Wales - an Illustrated History 1850-1980. Cardiff: University of Wales Press/ Welsh Arts Council, 1985.
[*includes a discussion of Performance Art in Wales, including the performance programme at the 1977 Eisteddfod; colour image of Patrick Ireland's performance at the Eisteddfod 1977 (p.181); mention of Barry Summer School].

Stachelhaus, Heiner. Joseph Beuys. München: Heyne Verlag, 1989.
[* includes a reference to Beuys' involvement in the National Eisteddfod Wrexham 1977].

Stitt, André (ed). Trace: Installaction Artspace 00-05. Bridgend: Seren, 2006.
[*documentation of the first five years of 'trace installaction artspace', a gallery for international time-based art based in Cardiff; illustrated throughout; includes essay by Heike Roms on performance art in Wales].

Stitt, André. Small Time Life. London: Black Dog, 2001.
[* includes material on Stitt's performances in Wales].

---. Homework - Scores + Statements + Notes, Köln: Krash Verlag 2000.
[*includes diagrams and scores for the performances of Crow (1995) and Second Skin (1996) in Cardiff and extracts from a lecture at Cardiff School of Art and Design (1997)].

---. South of No North, Krakow: Fort Sztuki publication, 2003.
[* includes material on Stitt's performance work in Wales between 2000 and 2003].

---. Reclamation, Cardiff; Chapter 2005 (exhibition catalogue).
[*accompanied exhibition 9 April - 8 May 2005, with essays by A. Stitt, Stewart Home and Jonathan Charley]

---.The Institution, Cardiff: Chapter 2005 (exhibition documentation).
[*exhibition documentation with extensive photographic material]

Thistlewood, David. A Continuing Process – the New Creativity in British Art Education 1955-65. London: ICA, 1981.
[*mention and photo of Tom Hudson's performance work in the 1960s and 1970s].

Thomas, Ed, and Iwan Bala. Hiraeth: Peintiadau Newydd Gan Iwan Bala, Gyda Drama Gan Edward Thomas/ New Paintings by Iwan Bala, with a Play by Edward Thomas; and an Essay by Fintan O'Toole. Cardiff/ Caerdydd: Oriel, 1993.

Whitehead, Simon. Walking to Work. Abercych: Gwaith Cerdded/ Shoeless, 2006.
[*monograph documenting the performance work of Simon Whitehead].

Worsley, Victoria. Ian Breakwell's UNWORD, 1969-70: Early Performance Art in Britain. Essays on Sculpture 52. Leeds: Henry Moore Institute, 2006.
[*includes reference to Ian Breakwell's UNWORD 4 in Swansea 1970].