Rites of Way - Paul R Jones

Over the past 20 years Paul R Jones has been creating performances that provide an insight into what the idea of Wales really is. He’s engaged with the idea of Britishness, how language creates imaginary borders, and when there isn’t a river, or a physical boundary how do we know we are Welsh?

Jones examines questions of how a small nation like Wales creates identity and maintains its cultural difference, especially when it borders with England. Similar ideas have recently been explored in Mike Parker’s book All The Wide Border.

We are delighted to be sharing this film in our current pop-up programme here at Oriel Davies. The project allows us to showcase work by artists who make use of the gallery spaces, in between refurbishment interventions, as we make improvements to become part of the National Contemporary Art Gallery Wales.

Paul R Jones was born at the border of North Wales. He completed his Doctorate at Aberystwyth University where he explored the concept of Heterotopic Friction through the study of territory, identity, and language. Exhibitions include a solo show 'Tiriogaeth y Ffin/Frontier Territory' at Aberystwyth Arts Centre (2018). His video work has been featured internationally, including at 'Hyperobjectivity' Video Art Hong Kong Showcase at Videotage for ArtBasel HK in 2023.

Other significant exhibitions include group shows at g39 in Cardiff, Nunnery Bow Arts in London, and the Winnipeg Underground Film Festival. His recent publication is the book chapter 'Humour as Heterotopic Friction' in the edited volume 'Comedy in Crisis' (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023), edited by Chrisoula Lionis.