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Description: | Central black form consisting of 3 large blocks set on circular cobbled area. Subsidiary white split form and attendant spheres. Whole work set in lawned court area. Additional Information: Taken from Dictionary of Celtic Mythology: 'Central figure of the 4th branch of the Mabinogi, son of Arianrhod, who conceives him only when Math tests her virginity, and brother of Dylan. Gwydion, Arianrhod's brother, abducts and raises the child, who shows great strength by his first birthday and is able to go to court by himself on his second. Because Gwydion then presents the still unnamed child to his mother, embarrassing her, some commentators have suggested that Gwydion may be the actual father, an incest hidden by late redactors. For whichever reason, Arianrhod is furious at the sight of the child, accusing Gwydion of 'pursuing her shame'. She curses the boy three times: he shall not have a name unless she give it to him; he shall not bear arms unless she equip him; and he shall not have a wife of the race of this earth. Gwydion cleverly overcomes all these obstacles, the third by creating the lovely Blodeuwedd entirely from flowers. But for all her comeliness, she does not become a good wife to Lleu. While he is absent, she entertains the wandering hunter Gronw Pebyr and resolves to help him to follow the formulated steps needed to kill her husband. Wounded, Lleu Llau turns into an eagle and after uttering a piercing shriek flies to a magic oak tree. Gwydion finds and restores him to human form, and shames Blodeuwedd by changing her into an owl. Lleu Llau Gyffes seeks out Gronw Pebyr who begs reconciliation before he is killed in the same way he would have killed Lleu. Thereafter Lleu becomes lord of Gwynedd, north Wales.' An art critic suggested that 'the passion in the piece stems from the mechanics of spatial relationships and scale. There is nothing 'literal' or illustrative' in the placing of the pieces. It is very much a piece of its time.' Another suggestion was that the triangular form represented the eagle carrying away the soul of Lleu Llau Gyffes (the fair one of the sure/steady hand). The theme of sorcery and illusion in the legend appealed to the theatrical interest of the sculptor. | Subjects: | Sculpture | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Sculptor: Phillips, John Lawrence | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=6732... | Go to resource |
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