Ffion Williams
Cymraeg Ddrwg
02/11/ 2024 – 21/02/2025
When using Welsh I make mistakes, miss mutations, and substitute English words to make my point. I call this Cymraeg Ddrwg (bad Welsh). Through this, I embrace language as an evolving tool for creation.” – Ffion Williams
Between Autumn 2024 and Summer 2025, we’re developing a trio of young artist commissions for Peak’s window spaces at Platfform 2, Y Fenni Station. The first commission was undertaken by Ffion Williams, an artist from Abergavenny who is now based between Wales and Scotland.
Ffion took part in Peak’s Platfform Haf programme (now Peak Peers) in 2022 and following that, a period of research at Abergavenny Station, interviewing people about Welshness, language and identity. Encorporating snippets of conversations, station annoucements and field recordings captured during this research, Cymraeg Ddrwg took shape as a series of overlapping fabric banners with painted text elements installed in the windows of Platfform 2. It was view alongside Ffion’s Billboard Gallery commission for Llantarnam Grange, an arts organisation located in Cwmbran, a short journey South along the Marches railway line. We celebarted the commission with a two-part launch event at both venues in November 2025.
For each Platfform 2 commission, we invite a writer based in Wales or the Welsh borderlands to respond to the artwork with a text. We’re delighted to share a response from journalist Jude Rogers, who chatted with Ffion on a rainy morning at Platfform 2 in February 2025, surrounded by Ffion’s artworks. Their far-ranging conversation delved into the absurdity of language, hope, regret and modern Wales.
More about Ffion’s practice: Ffion uses sound, metal work and protest banner motifs to create work that investigates language, place, protest, and industrialisation. Responding to tthe complex legacy of the Welsh language, a minority language that was banned for over 500 years, they use Cymraeg to explore their own complex and uneasy relationship with Welshness.
Platfform 2 commissions are funded by ACW Create and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Cymraeg Ddrwg
02/11/ 2024 – 21/02/2025
Rhwng hydref 2024 a haf 2025 rydyn ni’n datblygu tri darn o waith comisiwn gan artistiaid ar gyfer ffenestri Peak ar Blatfform 2, Gorsaf Drenau’r Fenni. Ffion Williams, artist o’r Fenni sydd bellach yn byw rhwng Cymru a’r Alban, gyflawnodd ein comisiwn cyntaf.
Cymerodd Ffion ran yn rhaglen Platfform Haf Peak (sef Cyfoedion Peak erbyn hyn) yn 2022, ac wedi hynny gwnaeth gyfnod o ymchwil yng Ngorsaf y Fenni, gan gyfweld â phobl am Gymreictod, iaith a hunaniaeth. Gan ymgorffori pytiau o sgyrsiau, cyhoeddiadau gorsaf a recordiadau maes a gasglwyd yn ystod y gwaith ymchwil yma, datblygodd Cymraeg Ddrwg yn gyfres o faneri defnydd oedd yn gorgyffwrdd, gydag elfennau testun wedi’u paentio wedi’u gosod yn ffenestri Platfform 2. Cafodd ei arddangos ochr yn ochr â chomisiwn Oriel Bwrdd Posteri Ffion ar gyfer Llantarnam Grange, sef sefydliad celfyddydol yng Nghwmbrân, sydd ddim ond taith fer tua’r de ar hyd rheilffordd y Gororau. Fe wnaethon ni ddathlu’r comisiwn gyda digwyddiad lansio dwy ran yn y ddau leoliad ym mis Tachwedd 2025.
Ar gyfer pob darn comisiwn i Platfform 2, rydyn ni’n gwahodd awdur sy’n byw yng Nghymru neu ar y Gororau i ymateb i’r gwaith celf gyda darn o destun. Rydyn ni’n falch iawn o gael rhannu ymateb gan y newyddiadurwraig Jude Rogers, a fu’n sgwrsio â Ffion ar fore glawog ym Mhlatfform 2 ym mis Chwefror 2025, wedi’i hamgylchynu gan weithiau celf Ffion. Aeth eu sgwrs ar drywydd abswrdiaeth iaith, gobaith, edifeirwch a Chymru fodern.
Mwy am arfer Ffion: Mae Ffion yn defnyddio sain, gwaith metel a motiffau baneri protest i greu gwaith sy’n ymchwilio i iaith, lle, protest a diwydiannu. Gan ymateb i waddol cymhleth y Gymraeg, a gafodd ei gwahardd am dros bum can mlynedd, maen nhw’n defnyddio’r iaith leiafrifol i archwilio eu perthynas gymhleth ac anesmwyth â Chymreictod.
Ariennir gwaith comisiwn Platfform 2 gan gronfa Creu Cyngor y Celfyddydau a Sefydliad Paul Hamlyn
