The Gallery
Tu ôl i’r blwch | Behind the boxCefyn Burgess
20 July - 21 September 2024
Exhibition Opening with Walk & Talk: 2pm, Saturday 20th July 2024
Tu ôl i’r blwch / Behind the box is based on Cefyn’s first research visit to North East India, namely the Khasi, Jainita Hills and Mizoram. A journey to get to know the people behind the collection boxes he remembers from his childhood Sunday School.
Because of these collection boxes, the Khasi and Jaintia hills are names that have ingrained themselves in Cefyn’s memory. Through this ongoing project, Cefyn explores the relationship and shared history established over 150 years between Wales and the varied traditions, language and culture of Khasi, Jainita hills of Megahalaya.
Part of an ongoing cultural research project in North East India, supported by Wales Arts International.
Partners include:
Mair Jones Harp Scholarship | Wales Art International | Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (Music Centre) | The Martin Luther Christian University,Shillong | Kahani - Kahani design works, Mumbai | RICE - Ruthin India Cultural exchange | The Presbyterian Church of Wales | Department of Art and Culture, Meghalaya
Image: Jaiaw, Khasi Hills, Cefyn Burgess
About Cefyn Burgess:
Born and raised in the slate quarry village of Bethesda, North Wales Cefyn Burgess graduated from Manchester with a BA (hons) in woven textiles then an MA in textiles from the Royal College of Art.
Leaving London in the late 1980’s he became the first weaver in residence at Paradise Mill Silk Museum in Macclesfield, this gave him the opportunity to develop his original range of fine hand woven silk fabrics. Since then Cefyn has been designing jacquard woven fabrics and quality interior products including his range of Welsh tapestry blankets, quilts, throws and cushions. His clients have included large organisations as well as individuals that have commissioned bespoke designs all woven in natural fibres.
Cefyn’s textile drawings and illustrations have been exhibited in Galleries throughout Wales, the UK, The USA and Europe.
His designs are created to suit any setting from a castle to a room and respond to the clients brief but also taking into account his own cultural background giving the designs a distinctive Welsh appeal but with a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional. Cefyn is currently working on a cultural exchange project with North East India, which has inspired a new collection of fabrics and exhibition works.
Textile Fridays
Calling all textile enthusiasts - we are opening our doors to textile enthusiasts of all abilities to come and create on a Friday!
To celebrate the opening of both Cefyn Burgess’ ‘Tu ôl i’r blwch | Behind the box’ exhibition and Sarah Reason-Jones’ The Maker, we are opening our doors to textile enthusiasts of all abilities to come and create on a Friday.
Bring along a project you’ve been working on or something you’ve put to one side - come create and chat over a cup of tea!
These sessions are free and are open to all.
