Roda Viva

Today’s image comes from one of two art galleries that Llandudno is blessed with. The Mostyn Gallery has featured in several of my previous blips - a handsome Edwardian building revamped into a modern arts centre in 2010. It was originally built for wealthy local arts benefactor and photographer, Augusta Mostyn, and ran from 1901 to 1913 . Interestingly, for two years it housed works by Gwynedd Ladies Art Society (GLAS) who were denied membership of male dominated local art societies on the basis of their gender. As such it was the first gallery in the world to show exclusively the work of women artists. Having just completed Lucy Steeds’ ‘The Artist’ - highly recommended if you enjoy art or France or both! - it’s interesting to see how forward looking this was. (Review below)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/19/the-artist-by-lucy-steeds-review-dextrous-portrait-of-female-fulfilment

To be honest, much of the work shown there is just too experimental for my taste, but today  - as we’re heading to the top floor cafe - I notice a colourful and inviting exhibition - Roda Viva, by the Brazilian artist Vanessa de Silva. Roda Viva or ‘wheel of life’, ‘features the various cycles of lives, the histories carried from generation to generation, and the interconnectedness of past, present and future.’ I love the transparency of the textile creations, the layers of shapes and colours - they give such a joyful impression. And hanging these panels to form a circle so you can stand surrounded by the ‘wheel of life’ just adds to this. 

I’ve included a collage of some the individual panels as an extra.