Cymraeg Ddrwg

Text and voice are powerful but can also be drowned out, and when language is not taught how could it be understood?
My work uses text and the Welsh Language (Cymraeg) to explore themes of Welshness, protest and hope.
When using welsh I make mistakes, miss mutations and substitute English. I call this Cymraeg Ddrwg (bad welsh). Through this, I embrace language as an evolving tool of creation without worrying about making mistakes. The layering of text, metal frames and sound adds complexity and distortion to the work, distancing it from legibility.
I conducted interviews about Cymraeg and identity at the Abergavenny train station in my home town. My installations embody the commotion of a train station, with light and sound guiding the viewer through the work.
Protest is a large part of Wales’ legacy. Through my metal sets and protest banner motifs, I strive to display the power of protest as a tool for change.
Suppression of cultures through colonisation has been experienced by many people in different ways.
My work goes beyond my experience, sharing stories on a wider scale. It is clear that Cymraeg is meaningful and significant from hearing people use and discuss it.