Hafod Residency (2024)

Three weeks at Hafod Art Studio in Eryri National Park through June and July, thanks to Noelle Griffiths, gave me the chance to set aside projects and plans, and just see what the place gave rise to. It was a pleasure to connect with arts organisations and communities in the area through a talk and workshop, but the rest of the time I was able to experience something of a mini-retreat, feeling the ground beneath my feet, letting my mind wander and being open to the unexpected.

self portrait with viewing device 

Without a car, and deliberately minimising use of a mobile phone, most of my time was spent outdoors - walking the 30k Dyffryn Maentwrog / Llyn Mair footpath network surrounding the studio and indoors - trying to find some kind of visual equivalent to my experiences of nature, industrial heritage and, most of all, weather.

One of the unexpected difficulties of a residency, for me at least, is knowing what to take with me. I had all sorts of ideas about what materials I would use, but left most of them at home. On a hunch though I did take a few old projector parts – a gift from Pascal Dubois. I had an idea that they would help me take a closer look but also indicate the distance that can’t be avoided in an outsider view of place. 

 

Pascal's gift at Hafod

Lenses and viewing devices have been a part of my work in various ways over the years - often cats’ eyes - and I was thinking very much about ideas of who or what constitutes an insider or outsider that Caroline Wright and I had explored in Binocular.

At first I tried holding the lenses and videoing at the same time: the roughness and immediacy was interesting, but also irritating. Using a tripod gave more clarity but was boring, so I devised a horizontal viewing device to see if I could get a satisfying balance.

Viewing device at viewing point

As well as the natural environment, I was drawn to the Ffestiniog Railway that runs across the mynydd, which connects to key themes in my work of industry and tourism. Originally it transported slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porth Madog - and now carries tourists along the same route. 

I gathered vast amounts of digital material that will be combined in video in some way...

 probably in the heart of winter, when memories of Hafod and Noelle's generosity will help see me through the darkness.

I did also take paper, gouache and oil bars and on wet days worked in the studio, trying to capture something of my memories, emotions and physical sensations from the previous days.

1 of 12: oil bar & gouache over collagraph on paper (39x29cms)