Review of ‘BigLittleCity’ at The Old Library, Cardiff

As I walked into the exhibition, I was immediately hit by the overwhelming scent of incense. What relevance does that have to a celebration of Cardiff and it's people? I haven't a clue, but I found it very off-putting and totally unnecessary. As was the irritating music, which had no connection to any work in the show, played in the background on a CD player perched on a windowsill. Hmm.
So not a particularly good start, but as I wandered into the room, I realised what a fantastic space it is. Cardiff has been crying out for a show like this, and the huge windows pour in a natural light that I think is so missed in some contemporary exhibitions. A clear view into the street below the Old Library building invited the outside world in, and the BigLittleCity space is spectacular because of it. It becomes one with the immediate urban landscape and the work on show reflects life in the everyday city.

The work itself is diverse and combines the wealth of subcultures and talented artists that Cardiff has. It evokes ideas that individual communities have joined together to represent the true face of the city, through the four sections of the exhibition. (People/Places/Music/Stories) Simon and Anthony Campbell’s black and white images of 80’s Butetown are intriguing, and by far one of the best bodies of work in the show. Gareth Jarvis's broodingly dark collodian wet plates featuring Cardiff Castle’s animal wall, amongst others, are inspired. A particularly outstanding set of images is Maciej Dakowicz’s vivid photographs of Cardiff evening life. There is something so Parr-esque about them, especially the people sitting on a bench surrounded by fast food rubbish.  They evoked comparisons to his 80’s series 'The Last Resort'. 

So if we go on the quality of the work on display, then it's a roaring success and I'm incredibly proud to have something like this in our fair city, but the presentation of the space is the big let down for me. I picked up on several things that I would not be happy to see in an exhibition I was taking part in. Cables for the TV screens were scrappily half taped and appeared hurriedly painted over, the majority of the walls were in poor condition and hadn't been prepared for an exhibition properly - there were dirty marks and holes from the previous exhibition which had not been filled in - and even a wooden door that had a splash of white paint brushed across it which hadn't been finished. 

These things may seem trivial to most, but to me it's the little details in a show that matter (and have such an affect) as much as the work itself. How can you view something successfully with your undivided attention when there is chaos surrounding it? It just distracts from the intention of the show for me, and I'm upset that this has jaded my experience when there is such a high quality of work on display. It's many simple things that make such a difference, which could be so easily fixed in an hour or two.  

This is a show that we should be proud to have in Cardiff and be confident in shouting it from the rooftops. It's something we've needed for a long time and it's great that it's finally here. Just a few tweaks, and it would be perfect.