New bid to uncover sculpture by former lecturer Paul Davies
Renowned artist Paul and his students created a huge map of Wales on Anglesey in the late 1980s, and now volunteers are needed to help rediscover it
Volunteers are needed to help rediscover a huge earth sculpture by former Coleg Menai lecturer Paul Davies.
People on and around Anglesey are being invited to the Llyn Alaw reservoir over two days next month to uncover the 60 square-metre map of Wales created by Paul and his students in the late 1980s.
The events, on November 23 and 24, are part of an ongoing collaboration between Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Countryside and AONB Unit, and Bangor University researcher Dr Sarah Pogoda from the School of Arts, Culture and Language.
Dr Pogoda is researching the work of Paul Davies, who led the Beca art movement and is best known for his ‘Welsh Not’ performance at the 1977 National Eisteddfod.
Paul taught sculpture at Gwynedd Technical College, later renamed Coleg Menai, until his death in 1993. He was a founding member of the teaching staff on the Art Foundation course when it started in Bangor in 1981.
He and his students spent months building his map of Wales at Llyn Alaw, near Llannerchymedd.
Pictures: Peter Telfer
Dr Pogoda said: “Paul initiated the commission from Welsh Water in 1987 in context with the then European Commission’s ‘Year of the Environment’.
“Paul, Art & Design students from Gwynedd Technical College, and local volunteers joined forces over months for building the sculpture, using only local materials. It is one of the first major works of so-called ‘land art’ in Wales and the UK.”
The sculpture has been overgrown by bramble, gorse, and undergrowth for more than a decade. But with two volunteering events in 2023, the sculpture has been cleared and is now visible again.
Alwyn Roberts, from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “We’re delighted to play our part in bringing this piece of cultural heritage back to life.
“The area – and with it the sculpture – fell a bit off the public visibility since Alaw Fishery closed a number of years ago, but we hope that through our common efforts we will bring the sculpture back to be enjoyed by visitors to the site, as it is an important piece of local heritage.”
Owen Davies, AONB Community Warden at Isle of Anglesey County Council, has taken the lead for clearing the sculpture of its overgrowth and organising the volunteering event.
Owen said: “We look forward to working with local schools and communities to help revive this historic artwork at Llyn Alaw, using hand tools such as garden-loppers and bow-saws.
“It has been challenging and very rewarding work. We now need to ensure we maintain a cleared sculpture, so please, we need many helping hands!”
The volunteering events will take place on November 23 and 24, from 10am to 2pm. Volunteers can be reimbursed for their fuel, but organisers will also arrange lifts to and from the site.
Portable toilet and hand washing facility will be available. Volunteers are asked to bring their own lunch.
For more information on the volunteering events, contact aonb@ynysmon.gov.uk
For further information on the research relating to the sculpture, contact s.pogoda@bangor.ac.uk or call 01248 382521.