Welsh Heritage Show
Peter Cronin RMSA, James Donovan, Tony Douglas Jones, Stephen Kite, Roma Mountjoy, John Lines RSMA, an Matt Williams.
Peter Cronin “I suppose that I would say this about Heritage. For me it is not the classic tourist form of Heritage, such as castles and dragons, et cetera, but a more visceral feeling, that comes from being born in a council house and working in industry. So for me, it was the pits and the heavy industry, but also the mountains of North Wales where I used to escape during time off. I paint both types of scene with deep affection and both are, for me, very real representations of a Welsh heritage and both very much changed in my 60 years in Wales. The industry is gone and the main mountains are too overpopulated with tourists to find any Hiraeth.”
Matt Williams “This exhibition is a dream come true for me. I’ve been a bit obsessed by Welsh heritage for years and I am especially drawn to the loss of it – cultural, linguistic, environmental, societal and political.
“I did a Masters in Illustration at Cardiff Met a few years ago and studied the subject in some depth then. For some reason, the stereotype persists that Welsh people define themselves by their losses – by what they are not rather than by what they are.
“Whilst it’s undeniable that our national heritage is one of exploitation, oppression and sacrifice, we do seem to revel in it even now and we wear our losses like a badge of pride. Why? Well that is the fascinating question for me. Perhaps it’s because despite it all … yma o hyd. We’re still here.m
“It’s a powerful story and one that I am desperate to convey to the viewer of my work. When I started my masters degree I learned that the average amount of time that someone looks at a painting in a gallery is about 7 seconds. And yet I want people to connect on a much deeper level to my paintings. I have found that using poetry – especially narrated poetry that is listened to while looking at the painting – creates a much more intense storytelling narrative that together becomes more than the sum of its parts.
“I am so grateful to the Albany Gallery for allowing me to present this format – a little bit of experimentation perhaps. Next to my paintings, there will be a QR code which can be scanned on a mobile phone and a poem that I’ve written for each of the paintings in the collection can be played.
“I am feeling a bit vulnerable about putting it all out there. It means so much to me on a very personal level but art shouldn’t be too comfortable should it?”