Overview
Artist Siôn Tomos Owen collaborated with students from six Welsh schools to create war memorials that reflect today’s society, and consider the long-term impact of conflict on their communities.
Hundreds of war memorials exist in Welsh schools to commemorate the service of former pupils in the World Wars – but only in schools established before 1945. The aim of this commission was to explore how the World Wars have impacted local communities, consider how commemoration has changed, and to encourage young people to create their own, contemporary memorials, to convey their thoughts, hopes and aspirations for the future.
The memorials were showcased in two exhibitions at Cardiff Bay’s Pierhead Building, then later at the Rhondda Heritage Park.
Hundreds of war memorials exist in Welsh schools to commemorate the service of former pupils in the World Wars – but only in schools established before 1945. The aim of this commission was to explore how the World Wars have impacted local communities, consider how commemoration has changed, and to encourage young people to create their own, contemporary memorials, to convey their thoughts, hopes and aspirations for the future.
The memorials were showcased in two exhibitions at Cardiff Bay’s Pierhead Building, then later at the Rhondda Heritage Park.
Image Gallery
Communities and Places
Over 100 secondary school pupils from south-east Wales engaged with this commission. Six Welsh-medium schools took part in this project: Ysgol Gwynllyw, Pontypool;Ysgol Llangynwyd, near Maesteg Ysgol Glantaf, Cardiff; Ysgol Rhydywaun, Cynon Valley; Ysgol Garth Olwg, Pontypridd; and Ysgol Cwm Rhondda, Porth. As part of their research, students were invited to explore local memorials with the help of a historian, before designing their own.
Watch Film
A short documentary about War and Peace: Welsh Schools Remembering War and Conflict.
Find Out More
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Dr Gethin Matthews, Historian at Swansea University, discusses this commission.