The Cardiff Tapes (2019)

This book explores the evolution of public sculpture over 50 years, highlighting the artist's reflections and societal changes in perception since the original installation.

In The Cardiff Tapes (2019), British artist Garth Evans embarks on a unique exploration of public sculpture and its evolving significance over five decades. The journey begins in 1972 when Evans installed a temporary sculpture in Cardiff, Wales, as part of the City Sculpture Project. The artist recorded the reactions of passersby the following day, capturing the immediate impact of his work. Fast forward to 2015, and Evans returns to the same location to conduct a second recording, curious to see how perceptions have shifted over the years.

The findings from his 2019 revisit reveal profound changes not only in the cultural landscape surrounding public art but also in the site itself, the sculpture, and even in Evans as an artist. The Cardiff Tapes (2019) presents the transcript of these new recordings alongside Evans' personal reflections on the experiment, offering readers a deeper understanding of the dialogue between art and its audience. Art historian Ann Compton contributes her insights, framing the discussion around the implications of artistic redisplays and the transformation of public art.

This book serves as a thought-provoking follow-up to Soberscove’s The Cardiff Tapes (1972), delving into the stakes involved in how public art is perceived and experienced over time. Through this investigation, Evans invites us to reconsider our relationship with art in public spaces and the narratives that shape our interactions with it.