It is a world in which something is missing

Wyn Evans' conceptual practice explores the way that ideas, messages, and text can be communicated through form, incorporating a diverse range of media including installation, film, sculpture, and photography. Aphorisms or film subtitles, open to a multitude of interpretations, are illuminated in a series of neon text sculptures.
“It is a world in which something is missing” is an invitation to reflect on the instability of meaning. The sculpted, neon-lit words are shown in a form resembling that of a shop sign or advertisement, and yet the semantics are suggestive of a more existential question. Changing the setting or perception of this piece serves to alter what it means to those who see it. Though instantly recognisable, the texts or objects are shown in a different way, inviting us to rethink our initial impression. In his performative, ephemeral firework sculptures, wooden structures spell out texts from songs and poetry and fleetingly burn. A neon installation by Wyn Evans entitled It is a world in which something is missing can also be found at White Cube London.

Cerith Wyn Evans was born in 1958 in Llanelli, Wales. His father was a painter and photographer. He studied at St Martin’s School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. In the 1990s, he turned his focus to sculpture and experimented with installation art. His poetic work derives its refined aesthetic from a wide range of influences including film, music, literature and philosophy. In 2003, he represented Wales at the Venice Biennale. He exhibited in Boston the following year, and has also held solo exhibitions in Glasgow, Paris, Istanbul, and Venice. He is supported by numerous galleries around the world, in London, Cologne, Berlin, and São Paulo. He won the Hepworth Prize for Sculpture in 2018.