Artist of the Month is a feature where we put the spotlight on the incredible work of one of our members.
Our Artist of the Month for December is Rebecca F. Hardy, a multi-disciplined visual artist based in North Wales.
“The balance between too little and too much, what is visually pleasing and total chaos, is something that I’m constantly playing with.”
My work is the exploration of materials and relationships between surface and object, colour, layers, and patterns. From drawings to screen-prints, photography, video, live-art, sculptural forms and installations.
Research and use of human anatomy, domestic objects and every so often my own fluttering state of mind are embedded in the work. Making my screen-prints, sculptures and installations act as vessels and metaphors and co-exist with an array of materials and the space it temporarily consists in.
My relationship with creating ebbs and flows but over the past 4 years I’ve resurge my creative practice and my thirst for learning is apparent. Prior to Covid-19 I was awarded a small Create grant from the Art Council of Wales for my project MEWNrhwng, mewn meaning ‘in’ and rhwng ‘between’ in Welsh. This was a collaboration with 3 other artists Jenny Cashmore, Najia Bagi and Gemma Lowe. Virtually meeting and sharing ideas and bouncing off each others creative energies. We showcased a multi-disciplined exhibition at Oriel CARN, Caernarfon and Elysium Gallery, Swansea in 2021. It was the catalyst I needed to create visual art and to write, showcasing sculptures, small interventions and photography as well as poetry.
I was awarded Eirian Llwyd Honorary Memorial Award for Printmaking in 2022, showcased artwork alongside the 2022 winner Sarah Gavey, previous winners and Eirian Llwyd’s collection of artwork at Ruthin Craft Centre. Winning my first ever award gave me a burst in confidence and the confirmation I needed to believe in myself as an artist.
In the same year I was accepted to exhibit in the DAC Art Prize 2022 which toured across Wales in 6 venues, g39, Cynan Valley museum, Galeri, Ty Pawb, Oriel Davies, Glyn Vivian. Many venues I hadn’t showcased before, so to gain this opportunity was truly exceptional for me.
My first solo exhibition in a institution was at Pontio, a arts performance centre in Bangor in late 2023, the small bursary I received from a-n magazine at the start of the year allowed me to explore and develop my artwork for the showcase. ‘Yr Hyn Sy’n Pylu / Of That Which Fades’ a new body of work, screenprints on plywood, vinyl drawings and installations presented the subtle implementations of layers and loud statements of colour and form. The abstract forms are derived from my own study and understanding of my dyslexic / neurodivergent brain. Showcasing for the first time a monologue I wrote and also read with moving imagery. Sharing with the public some raw and honest feelings and opinions on how I see the world from my brain. The balance between too little and too much, what is visually pleasing and total chaos, is something that I’m constantly playing with in my artwork but as me as well.
Since May this year I have started to create again and was fortunate to receive Seed Funding from Cyngor Gwynedd and the UK Government for my project ‘Dy Werth / Your Worth’. Delving deeper, researching, experimenting with some of those questions that had risen while writing my monologue around procrastination, imposter syndrome and our self-worth. A collection of my artwork, screenprints, etchings and new dry-points from ‘Dy Werth’ will be showcased in Oriel Ysbyty Gwynedd from December 2024 to March 2025.
Learn more about Rebecca's work:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/_rebeccafhardy
Website: https://www.rebeccafhardy.com/
