George Little Book Launch with Peter Wakelin | Mumbles Tabernacle
Nov 16, 2023 (UTC+0)ENDED
Swansea
Join Peter Wakelin and Prys Morgan as they host the much-anticipated launch of George Little: The Ugly, Lovely Landscape. Few artists have dedicated themselves as passionately to capturing and interpreting industrial environments as George Little. Born in 1927 in the east end of Swansea, he was intimately acquainted with the abandoned copper works, slag heaps, and bustling docks that characterized Dylan Thomas's enchantingly unattractive hometown. Peter Wakelin, an esteemed art historian and industrial archaeologist, provides insightful commentary alongside over 100 of Little's evocative photographs and paintings. Little's oeuvre documents the decline of heavy industry and industrial towns in South Wales throughout his lifetime, conveying the gritty, somber atmosphere of post-industrial landscapes before transforming them with vibrant colors and abstract elements. Little's own words encapsulate his nostalgia for disappearing subjects such as pithead wheels, slag heaps, heavy industry, and the Swansea docks he once knew. Prys Morgan aptly acknowledges that while many were aware of Swansea's "ugly lovely" nature, few, if any, were able to translate its inherent ugliness into memorably beautiful art. This meticulously researched study by Peter Wakelin seamlessly weaves together art history and industrial archaeology, offering a comprehensive overview of Little's profound artistic contributions. Writers, artists, urban explorers, and archaeologists are consistently drawn to the remnants of industry and the haunting remains of deindustrialization and urban decay. However, it is George Little who stands out for his unwavering commitment to documenting and interpreting these environments. Attend the George Little Book Launch with Peter Wakelin to immerse yourself in the captivating visual journey of this remarkable artist's life's work. The event will take place on November 16, 2023, at the Mumbles Tabernacle in Swansea. Tickets are priced at £6.13 and can be redeemed against book purchases.