Sui Generis - the first exhibition
April 2019 - 67 projects from 66 creatives and collaborative groups filled the entirety of Plas Bodfa. This remarkably multi-disciplinary group art exhibition explored the idea of ‘sui generis’, a Latin phrase meaning "of its (his, her, their) own kind; in a class by itself; unique”. It has been adopted by the legal profession for unusual buildings, properties that fall outside normal designation. Over 1,400 visitors attended the show!
The Works
Following the exhibition, we published a book illustrating the unique relationship that the works, performances and installations had with the history and textures of the house.
Wales Art Review announced Sui Generis as one of the top 10 visual arts highlights of 2019!
See their “Welsh Visual Arts - Best of 2019”
Congratulations to all of the 66 creatives that made Sui Generis such a highlight of 2019!
In 1920 the walls of Plas Bodfa were built to contain a domestic dwelling, an interior space in which people lived their lives. Then their meaning changed. They contained a restaurant, and then a residential care home, then a tapestry kit company complete with a gift shop and tea room. Finally, the walls contained nothing, the house has been empty for the last twelve years, until artist Julie Upmeyer and her husband Jonathan Lewis bought the property last year.
What are the possibilities of a house? With performance and painting, collage and ceramics, skateboarding and singing, poetry and polyrhythmic drumming, fairytales and photography, games and gramophones, sculpture and storytelling, re-enactments and a retroscope, this exhibition was a one-time opportunity to fill the currently vacant 36 room / 1,000 sqm space with creative acts, before complete renovation began.
Sui Generis was a project of Julie Upmeyer, an artist and initiator.
Sui Generis was part of the Anglesey Art Weeks – Open Studios and Galleries 2019.
Alan Whitfield Chaparral Andy Hodges Anne Weshinskey Arni Gudmundsson belit sag Cathy Wrobel
Christopher Bond Charles Gershom David Garner Debbie Budenberg Fiona Davies Genesis Dove
Ed Wright Whispering Dishes Harri Carmichael Heather Hudson Helen Birnbaum
Helen Danson Ioan Griffith Jan Hale
Jane Ross Jayne Lawless Janina Holloway Jonathan Lewis Jonathan Smith
Josie Jenkins Justine Montford
Judy Moody-Stuart Karen Ankers Lara Usherwood Lee Duggan
Lin Cummins Marirose Pritchard Martin Daws
Mel Roberts Michael Prince Mishelle Kit Nisa Ojalvo Nicola Carter
Ol Guse Pat Arnao Peter Appleton
Peter Hughes Philip Cassidy Remy Dean Rhona Bowey
Rhys Trimble Helmet Hopewell Ink Seana Cragg
Sarah Ryder Secil Yayali Sound Book Project Stephen Green
Sterly and Snell Tammy Woodrow Tom Witherick
Trish Bermingham Clare Brumby Ulgen Semerci Ness Owen Veronica Calarco
Adrenaline Brush Board Games Wanda Garner Wendy Dawson