Hiraeth – Rhian Wyn Jones

Published on 20.01.15

It’s a really exciting time for third years as they move towards the culmination of their studies. Rhian writes: “During the first two years of this course my work has been inspired by my home environment, fed by a sense of “Hiraeth” which translates to a longing for home and the people and places familiar

It’s a really exciting time for third years as they move towards the culmination of their studies.

Rhian writes: “During the first two years of this course my work has been inspired by my home environment, fed by a sense of “Hiraeth” which translates to a longing for home and the people and places familiar to me.   Llanddwyn Island is important in Welsh culture as the Island of the patron saint of lovers. It is a place of pilgrimage for lovers with Santes Dwynwen’s Day being celebrated on the 25 January in the same way as St Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 14 February. This island has a great significance for me personally and has become one of my “go to” places, in good times and bad”.

As oysters are prolific on the beach at Llanddwyn (and a renowned aphrodisiac), during this module Rhian has focussed on creating forged oyster shell forms from mild steel, bronze and copper. Her intention is both to explore the oyster shells as talismans and to create a series of installations on Llanddwyn: photographing the public as they interact with the installation and recording how the tide shifts them across the sand.This weekend is the first time she is taking her shells to the island and I am really looking forward to seeing the photographs in our next tutorial.

Del

Follow Rhian’s progress:

Twitter: @rhianblacksmith. Instagram: Rhian_Jones_Artist_Blacksmith