By Ruth McLees, Artes Mundi Live Guide
Hidden amongst Fernando Bryce's 195 small drawings that make up his work Die Welt are copies of adverts taken from the period of world history that Die Welt refers to. They present companies crucial to the emergence of globalisation between 1880 and 1920, including the Commercial Pacific Cable Company (linking Asia with the Americas), Marconi Wireless Telegraphy ("it increases the usefulness of the telegraph by making available distant and inaccessible and hitherto impossible points such as ships at sea, small islands etc") and various global shipping firms and passenger liners.
It's thanks to companies such as these drawing the world closer that globalisation has grown into today's all encompassing form. Amazing developments have occurred in the 100 years since the Die Welt period of history... we can only imagine what incredible inventions and advancements will happen worldwide during the next 100 years to unite international nations still further...
Take a look at the Artes Mundi catalogue and read the list of sponsors of this years show. Many of them are global companies which I think echo the businesses of 100 years ago remembered in Fernando Bryce's work. Their sponsorship illustrates the spread and influence of global brands today within all facets of contemporary society and culture.
Artes Mundi means "arts of the world", with this year's show focussing particularly on the impact of globalisation and migration. And so it's right that the exhibited works themselves should describe the force and effects of globalisation on the artists and their countries of origin. This should not necessarily be seen negatively, but instead as an enabling force allowing people (and artists) from all corners of the Earth to communicate and come together in shows such as this. We must remember that it is thanks to this same force of globalisation that Artes Mundi exists. Here, global sponsors=global exhibition: one form of globalisation positively enabling another.
Globalisation that leads to one world, one shared experience and increases our understanding of humankind can only be a good thing... What do you think?
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