Light and Loss : Mounted

I conducted numerous interviews with individuals from the Welsh Valleys who were raised in families of miners. I explored the themes each interviewee touched upon in these conversations. These have been combined into a shield symbol, drawing inspiration from banners and coats of arms, historically associated with miners' unions.

The themes explore the tragic loss of a husband from a mining disaster, the inequity of wages paid by affluent mine owners to impoverished labourers, the grave importance of tools used by the underground workers, and the enduring camaraderie shared among the men and boys who work together, bonded by their affection for their pit ponies.
Above the shield, an open, empty book stands as a metaphor, representing the untold stories and overlooked historical events of the mining industry.
It symbolises the silent closure of the mines, reclaimed by nature, leaving behind a landscape that seems to have forgotten its past.

Specially created for the Swansea Print Workshop ‘Miners Imprint’ Project in partnership with South Wales Miners Library.