CARDIFF.- An original Damien Hirst; work based on Peter Finnemore’s own record collection; and the inspiration for a new track by the Victorian English Gentlemen's Club all form part of a new exhibition at National Museum Cardiff of art influenced by music and music inspired by art.

The Sight of Sound (26 September 2009 – 3 January 2010) looks at the relationship between art and music in the 20th and 21st centuries. It gives visitors the opportunity to listen to pieces of music while enjoying a display of art from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales collection and pieces on loan to the Museum.

Beautiful, Father Time, Hypnotic, Exploding Vortex, The Hours Painting (2008) by Damien Hirst has been lent to the Museum by Mr. Steve Watts from Cardiff, who won the work in a recent competition. The large five foot square spin painting, created by dripping paint into a spinning canvas is the original artwork for the indie-rock band The Hours’ album ‘See the Light.’

While studying Peter Finnemore’s The Groove, which is made up from the artist’s collection of Welsh-language 7-inch singles being listened to by the landscape artist Kyffin Williams, visitors will be able to enjoy the track, ‘Popstars Cymru’ by Ryan and Ronnie.

Brand new music by the Wales-based indie band, The Victorian English Gentlemen's Club will also be heard in the exhibition. The band was inspired by the work of pioneer photographer Roger Fenton, Melrose Abbey, South Transept and composed a track as part of Amgueddfa Cymru’s ‘Respond’ project. Both works will sit side by side in The Sight of Sound and the music will be available to download for free from the Museum’s website from 22 October 2009.

Bryony Dawkes, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ Partnership Projects Curator, who’s responsible for the exhibition said:

“The Museum has enjoyed its Cerdd 09 theme this year, weaving music through our diverse collections to create new ways of looking, listening and learning. To this end, The Sight of Sound focuses on the 20th century and beyond when artists began to respond to the more abstract qualities of music, taking a more collaborative approach to the two genres.”

Other artists featured include Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Bridget Riley, Ceri Richards and Josef Herman.

Color and Form: Abstract Painting and Sculpture in Postwar Britain – a new display focusing on post-war British abstract painting and sculpture from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ collection will also open at National Museum Cardiff on 26 September. Major works by Welsh artists Terry Setch, Ivor Davies and John Selway in addition to British names such as Richard Smith, Robyn Denny, Gillian Ayres will be featured. Some of the works are from the Derek Williams Trust Collection including a number of new acquisitions displayed here for the first time.