A sculptor who created the heads of soldiers from mythology and legend who has won the Gold Medal for Craft and Design at the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod 2022.
The Gold Medal for Craft and Design and £5,000 was awarded to Natalia Dias from Cardiff. He will receive the award in a special ceremony on the Eisteddfod Field in Tregaron.
Originally from Portugal, Natalia was a student at Coleg Sir Gâr, and now lives in Cardiff and works at the Fireworks Clay Studios in the city.
In the winning work Natalia explores the woman as a warrior, a figure who exudes power and confidence, adapting to a constantly changing environment, transforming between human, plant and animal.
The selectors this year were Julia Griffiths Jones, Peter Wakelin and Catrin Webster.
The selectors said of Natalia's work: "We were attracted by the originality and presence of the sculptures of the heads of female soldiers from mythology and legend, decorated with geometric forms from nature with a hint of metamorphosis between people, plants and animals.
"We could see the emphasis on finesse in her craft: her particular skill in creating such ambitious yet intricate forms, and the splendor and smoothness of her glaze, which are inspired by Portuguese ceramic traditions, the country where he grew up.
“Her sculptures manifested themselves as skillfully crafted objects and strong feminist and environmental statements about the power of women and the connection of humanity and nature."
Natalia Dias grew up in Portugal and for her the interior of the church was an art gallery.
She said that the forms, colours, emotions and symbolism found inside those spaces have always been a fundamental influence within her work and how it is displayed. Like pre-Raphaelite images and many from Greek and Celtic mythology her classically rooted sculptures focus on the female figure together with nature.
"My interest in natural geometric phenomena of repeating patterns in plants and crystals is reflected in the symmetry of line and form that often surrounds my figures.
"My work brings my cultural heritage with its rich glossy glaze and the British tradition of Wedgwood combining their sense of fantasy, exuberance and highly skilled craftsmanship.
"Using a variation of slip casting and hand building I create clay collages formed by multiple cast forms, which are fired several times to reach the glaze depth required for the work.
“I aim to combine the characteristics of the human condition with the meditative and immersive beauty of nature."
Natialia Dias' work will be on view at Y Lle Celf on the National Eisteddfod Maes at Tregaron.