From 5 February until 4 September, 2011 an exhibition on Sir Kyffin Williams’ work on Patagonia will take place at Oriel Môn. It will be officially opened on Friday evening, 4 February 2011 by a native of Patagonia, Elvey MacDonald.

This exhibition provides an insight into the landscape and people of Patagonia compiled by Kyffin during his Churchill Fellowship visit in 1968-1969 to record the descendents of the Welsh settlers.

Works on display hail from the Oriel’s collection, private and public collections including a large selection from The National Library of Wales.

A collection of pen, ink, watercolour and oils are displayed ranging from paintings and large works on paper to small sketches from Kyffin’s autobiography ‘Wider Sky’.  A collection of photographs taken by Kyffin on his own personal cameras are also on display.

The exhibition will also include some of Kyffin’s personal possessions such as his travel itinerary, landing card and two Aeroineas Argentinas airline tickets.

Isle of Anglesey County Council, Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure Portfolio Holder, Cllr Bob Parry OBE, said: 

‘We are extremely grateful to everyone and especially The National Library of Wales who have all helped us create this stunning exhibition which is a record of a time which Kyffin stated was the most exciting and memorable time of his life.’ 

On his death in September 2006 the internationally renowned Welsh artist, Sir Kyffin Williams, bequeathed a large part of his estate to The National Library of Wales. It encompasses all the artist’s own works of art, then owned by him, his extensive collection of art by others, his prints, his archives, his medals and a small collection of bronzes of animals and birds. 

In the Spring of 2008 the Kyffin Williams Bequest Project was set up by The National Library of Wales. The cataloguing of the artwork and archives began in the Summer of 2008 and the digitising programme began in early Summer 2009. 

As part of the Kyffin Williams Bequest Project a Blog was launched. This blog was designed to provide updates about the cataloguing and various other aspects of the project, whilst also sharing information about any interesting items found in the collection.


The Librarian of the National Library of Wales, Andrew Green said:

‘The National Library is extremely privileged to be able to work in partnership with Oriel Ynys Môn on this special exhibition of Sir Kyffin Williams’ work, and we look forward to working in partnership on further projects in the future.’ 

To coincide with the exhibition various events will take place at Oriel Ynys Môn. 
On the 1 July 2011, William Troughton, Visual Images Librarian at the National Library of Wales will be discussing ‘Kyffin - the Photographer’

Other events include: 

February 18, 2011 – 7.00 pm
Patagonia: Kyffin’s Great Adventure: A talk by David Meredith, author ‘Kyffin in Venice’ and ‘Kyffin Williams, His Life, His Land’.


March 25, 2011 – 7.00 pm
‘A Place of Meadows and Tall Trees’ 
A talk by the author Clare Dudman about the research work into her novel which is based on the early years of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia.

Kyffin Williams Bequest Project

Blog Kyffin

www.kyffinwilliams.info


Futher Information

Elin Hâf, NLW Press Office 01970 632534 or post@llgc.org.uk