A photographer and visual artist from Cardiff was awarded the Gold Medal for Fine Art at the National Eisteddfod in Llyn and Eifionydd 2023
The Gold Medal for Fine Art and £5,000, donated by Ann Lock in memory of her parents, Captain Gwilym and Mrs Eleanor Owen, Llanbedrog, was presented to John Rowley in a ceremony on the Eisteddfod Maes in Boduan on the opening day of the Festival.
According to the selectors, Elfyn Lewis, Owein Prendergast and Junko Mori, John Rowley's work was "exciting and playful".
The artist had submitted three photographs of himself wearing 'masks' he had created at his home from everyday materials and then photographed them and posted the images on social media.
Selector Elfyn Lewis said: "He's been doing these for a while now. He started during Covid-19 when everything was shut down and was making these pictures on instagram.
"He was giving himself time every day. He was taking things around the house and make these faces. The subjects he uses and talks about are quite playful and I just like them. He has put a light in his mouth or fish over his face there is not a lot of people going to say 'I can do that'. There is certainly an element of performance in his work as well."
The three selectors discussed the various entries for the award virtually for several months and met at Y Lle Celf on Friday to make their final decision.
Elfyn Lewis added: "We discussed for a long time during the morning. We had discussed with each other over the last few months online and made this final decision today.
"I think this is the first time the final judgment has been made that day before the gold medal is presented. It's brilliant because everyone gets the same fair play.
"We have seen all the work together and had time to walk around Y Lle Celf, see what is what and how the works sit alongside each other."
John Rowley has over 20 years of professional performance experience, working extensively in theatre, film and television.
He is a performer, theatre maker and visual artist. In the 1990’s he was a core member of the Welsh experimental theatre company, Brith Gof. Since 2000 John has been an associate performer with Forced Entertainment. He regularly works with Pearson/Brookes for National Theatre Wales.
He is co-artistic director of performance company, good cop bad cop and was invited to exhibit photographic works at the 2018 National Eisteddfod which was staged in Cardiff.
Describing his work he said: "The "masks" would have to be constructed. photographed and uploaded to Instagram within 15 minutes. As soon as the photo is taken, most of the masks fall apart and are recycled, thrown in the bin or taken into the garden to disintegrate."
During the week-long festival Y Lle Celf, supported by the Arts Council of Wales, will be the largest temporary art exhibition in Europe with dozens of carefully selected artwork on display
Elin Huws, chair of the Art committee in Llyn and Eifionydd, said: "The Eisteddfod gives artists a place to display their work and for one week every year Y Lle Celf is the most popular art gallery in Wales.
"This exhibition has become a very professional show and winning an award is extremely important to an artist's reputation.
"What is exciting, innovative and fresh for one may not be considered so by others. That is what usually happens at Y Lle Celf and we will see what the opinion is about the art in the exhibition this year."
She explained that in order to exhibit in the exhibition, artists and designers must either have been born in Wales, have Welsh parents, or have lived or worked in Wales for at least three years before the presentation date. The final selection is made by a panel of experts.
Elin added several projects have been taking place in the Eisteddfod's catchment area for months and these will have a prominent place in the exhibition.
"The Cofnod project was set-up with the intention of keeping the names of places such as fields, chapels and beaches alive.
"During the Eisteddfod itself we will have a specific theme every day in Y LLe Celf with workshops and activities," she said.
The 2023 Llyn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod at Boduan runs from August 5-12. More details online at eistedddfod.cymru