A thought-provoking new exhibition exploring the power of the portrait has been launched at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

Using historic and contemporary Welsh art, the Portrait and Power exhibition - which opened on Saturday, 1 November - considers how identity, gaze and power flow through portraiture.

The exhibition will also invite the visitor to look carefully at the works on display and to rethink the purpose and effect of a portrait.

Whilst enjoying the artistic brilliance of the works on display, the audience will also be encouraged to question traditional roles and challenge visual conventions. Ultimately, the show asks the question: how can portraits reflect or rewrite the stories told about identity, gender, race, class and belonging?

Contemporary artists such as Anya Paintsil, Natalie Chapman and Shani Rhys James use the portrait to confront the politics of looking - turning the gaze back on the viewer, reclaiming the body, and making space for stories of care, ageing, motherhood, and identity that rarely enter public collections. These newly commissioned or acquired works sit at the heart of this exhibition, expanding who is seen and on whose terms.

With the approach of her 150th anniversary, the exhibition will also include a case study relating to the artist Gwen John, one of Wales’s most celebrated painters. Traditionally overshadowed by her brother Augustus John, this section will include portraits by both siblings and also by her close friend Mary Constance Lloyd, illustrating how different gazes can shape the same subject.

Rhodri Llwyd Morgan is the Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales. Commenting on the library’s latest show, Rhodri said: “This exhibition offers a valuable opportunity for us to open up conversations on how we see ourselves, and how we are seen in art.

“This fresh look at portraiture is in itself a lens through which we can examine the power dynamics inherent in the act of collecting and exhibiting. I look forward to the events and engagement opportunities that will run alongside the exhibition, that will create connections with new audiences."

Mari Elin Jones is the Interpretation Officer at the National Library of Wales. Mari said: “Portrait and Power celebrates how much our collection has grown and shifted in recent years. Recent collecting has brought extraordinary work by historically under-represented artists into the library’s care, and I am incredibly proud to have curated an exhibition that gives these works the space and attention they deserve.”

The intention of the exhibition has been to inspire as well as to challenge, and visitors will also have the opportunity to create their own works in a dedicated studio space within the gallery.

The inclusivity of the exhibition will also be reflected in a coinciding programme of events, engagement activities and work with schools. Events will include audio described tours, curator led gallery talks, panel discussions and community engagement workshops. Full details of all activities will be shared on the library website over the coming weeks. Visit https://shorturl.at/9Fbtx.