Jack Rhys Powell

BA (Hons) Artist Designer Maker


I’m a Welsh artist who joined the Maker team last year after changing direction from textiles, as I always wondered, how do things work and how are they are made. Working primarily in glass I have developed skills in glass moulding, using this process to create pieces of visual language. Working in my signature style, reflective of the Scandinavian ideology of “Lagom” and taking influence from monumental buildings and the art of contemplation. I enjoy using the viewers participation of my work to complete my cycle of making. My work builds up to one final moment; putting the responsibility on the viewer in getting them to that moment of realising what my artefacts are communicating. My chosen material is enforced by my belief that glass as a material is something our culture passes and intersects with every day without a thought on its function to providing light, insulation, views and more. It is the exoskeleton of a building giving its occupants much more than they realise. I take glass in its primary form and turn it into something that will allow my viewers to appreciate its functionality, beauty and purpose. The inspiration for these pieces was taken from a recent trip to Paris after staying near the Saint Trinity church. The Building was erected as a part of the Russian embassy, nestled in-between the Eiffel tower and the Seine River. The construction of this church is not only building monumental architecture but also bridges, evidencing how architecture and its materials influence society and culture in not just by disturbing its surrounding but on a social level. The pieces are visually illustrating the construction process to a new significant building coming to life in preparation for its new role within the City.


Artist Cymreig ydw i a ymunodd â’r tîm Gwneuthurwr y llynedd ar ôl newid cyfeiriad o faes tecstilau, gan mod i wedi ystyried erioed sut mae pethau’n gweithio a sut maen nhw’n cael eu gwneud. Gan weithio’n bennaf gyda gwydr, rwyf wedi datblygu sgiliau mewn mowldio gwydr, gan ddefnyddio’r broses hon i greu darnau gweledol eu hieithwedd. Mae gen i fy arddull fy hun o weithio, arddull unigryw sy’n adlewyrchu’r ideoleg Sgandinafaidd o “Lagom” a chael fy nylanwadu gan adeiladau enfawr a’r grefft o fyfyrio. Dw i’n mwynhau defnyddio cyfranogiad cynulleidfa yn fy ngwaith i gyfannu fy nghylch gwneud. Mae fy ngwaith yn arwain at un foment derfynol; yn gosod cyfrifoldeb ar y gwyliwr i gyrraedd y foment honno o sylweddoli’r hyn y mae’r arteffactau yn ei gyfleu. Dewisais y deunydd oherwydd mod i’n credu bod gwydr yn ddeunydd y mae ein diwylliant yn ei basio ac yn dod ar ei draws bob dydd heb feddwl ddwywaith am ei swyddogaeth sef darparu golau, insiwleiddio, a golygfeydd a llawer mwy. Sgerbwd allanol adeilad yw gwydr sy’n rhoi mwy i’w breswylwyr nag maen nhw’n ei ddychmygu. Dw i’n cymryd gwydr yn ei ffurf sylfaenol a’i droi yn rhywbeth y bydd fy ngwylwyr yn gallu gwerthfawrogi am ei swyddogaeth, ei harddwch a’i ddiben. Yr hyn a ysbrydolodd y darnau hyn oedd taith ddiweddar i Paris ac aros ger eglwys Saint Trinity. Codwyd yr adeilad fel rhan o lysgenhadaeth Rwsia, yn swatio rhwng Tŵr Eiffel ac Afon Seine. Nid dim ond pensaernïaeth anferthol oedd adeiladu’r eglwys hon ond roedd hefyd yn codi pontydd, ac mae hynny’n dangos sut mae pensaernïaeth a’i ddeunyddiau yn dylanwadu nid yn unig ar gymdeithas a diwylliant drwy beidio ag aflonyddu ar ei amgylchoedd ond hefyd ar lefel gymdeithasol. Mae’r darnau’n darlunio’n weledol y broses o adeiladu adeilad sylweddol newydd yn barod ar gyfer ei rôl newydd yn y Ddinas.

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