Distant past inspires an antiquarian ‘folly’
This week we talk to sculptor Norman Payne, who artwork at Plas Bodfa pays tribute to the island’s prehistoric past.
Q Tell us about your family
A I met my wife Julie (also exhibiting in ‘Continuum’ at Plas Bodfa) at art college in the 90s. Together we have three children: Scarlet (22) graduated from Aberystwyth University with a Fine Art degree last year, Ethan (20) currently studying ‘Forest Management’ and Mimi (18) who has just started studying ‘Veterinary Bioscience’ at Aberystwyth University. We live and work in Preston and have a toy poodle called Eddie and a cat called Furter (after Frank’n’furter from Rocky Horror!).
Q What are you best known for?
A Depends who you ask! My ‘day job’ is working as a Deputy Headteacher but outside of school, I am a sculptor making both studio and site-specific artworks that explore the beliefs of our prehistoric ancestors and reflect on how these can help us navigate the complex times we live in.
Q Tell us about your exhibition (what’s it called, what’s it on/ where is it being held?)
A I have created the biggest artwork that I’ve ever made as part of the exhibition ‘Plas Bodfa Continuum’ on Anglesey. The work is a response to William and Sidney Hughes (the first owners of Plas Bodfa)who were members of the Anglesey Antiquarian Society and also to the multitude of prehistoric sites on Anglesey.
Q When is it running from/to?
A It runs from 9th-24th April 2022
Q What can people expect?
A I’ve worked in the ‘sunken garden’ area of the house where there is a circular hedge with a mahonia in the middle. Using stone from the site, I’ve then constructed a low, ruined, circular wall around it. Inside the hedged area I’m installing three large standing stones that I’ve made. It references the ancient sites of Anglesey that I visited in February and is meant to look like one - as I liked the idea that, as antiquarians, the Hughes would perhaps have considered having a prehistoric ‘folly’ to be very fashionable.
Q Tell us five things which make your exhibition great?
A I’ve had a lifelong love affair with Wales, so exhibiting in Wales is really special to me and Plas Bodfa itself is truly inspirational- the artwork is sited overlooking the Menai Straight and Snowdonia. Also I’ve had a great time visiting Anglesey’s prehistoric sites as part of my research. Finally, it’s been a real privilege to work with Julie Upmeyer, the driving force behind the exhibition, and her family - they made both me and my wife really welcome on our research trip / micro-residency in February and allowed me to work in such a great place.
Q Tell us what’s good about the venue
A Where to start? Plas Bodfa is a place of possibilities!
Working there has been fantastic, being surrounded by layers of history everywhere you go. Anglesey itself is like a land apart (both physically and metaphorically) and I think that this really spoke to me as I like to create spaces that are ‘special’ and apart from the everyday.
Q What are your best and worst habits?
A Don’t know about best but worst is falling
asleep in front of the TV, especially if it’s something that I really wanted to watch!
Q What’s next for you? What are you currently working on, or what do you plan to work on?
A I’d really love to make more work at Plas Bodfa, they have a pond there which got me thinking about the [Iron Age] finds made at Llyn Cerrig Bach on Anglesey and the idea of making offerings in water from Excalibur to a penny thrown in a wishing well.