Undo Things Done is a poetic inquiry into place, politics and class, intertwined with personal histories. This book acts as a stand alone reader for Sean Edwards’ eponymous exhibition for Cymru yn Fenis / Wales in Venice 2019, an official Collateral event of the Venice Biennale 58th International Art Exhibition, commissioned by Arts Council Wales.

The selection of reproduced and newly commissioned texts address the materiality of the art works and wider themes of home, inheritance, social class and belonging.

Contributions span art historic influences looking at the role of the viewer in creating a poetic experience of a fragmented installation (Prof. Clive Cazeaux); poetry and art writing (Daisy Lafarge and Moyra Davey); social histories of quilting and council estates (Elen Philips and Lynsey Hanley); essay and auto fiction (Helen Nisbet and Kate Davies) with an introduction by guest exhibition curator Marie-Anne McQuay.

The book designed by Daly & Lyon in collaboration with Edwards features a series of unique images contributed by the artist.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Sean Edwards: Undo Things Done at Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, Castello, Venice (11 May – 24 November 2019). The exhibition tours to Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham (spring 2020) and Bluecoat, Liverpool (autumn 2020).

Co-published by Bluecoat and Tŷ Pawb.

English and Welsh text.