Nadheem Singh, humble stones
Platfform 2 Commissions
September 2025 – February 2026
Nadheem Singh’s commission, humble stones, was on view at Platfform 2, Y Fenni Station between September 2025 – February 2026. The work featured two poems, developed from a period of research undertaken in summer 2025, walking and exploring Abergavenny’s river systems, geology and natural boundaries.
Nadheem’s work embraces the complexity of how humans navigate borderlands, and honours the natural boundaries of the Earth, expressed through rivers, coastlines, forests, mountains, canyons, cliffs, bones, nests, and skin. His work acknowledges the lived experience of those who face immigration challenges, forced displacement and bureaucratic injustice at the hands of political borders.
humble stones featured hand-drawn elements from Nadheem’s sketchbooks – map notations, train tracks, rivers and other fragments. The compositions suggest the convergence and divergence of natural, geologic, politicaland national borders – and question who is excluded, and what is extracted, across these thresholds. The work featured the Blorenge mountain which looms over Abergavenny, marking the edge of the former South Wales coal field. On speaking about the work, the artist said: ‘I want to acknowledge the intersection between political borders and the exploitation of natural resources, despite systems of the west painting this destruction to exist in a vacuum. When we face our reality with eyes wide open, we notice how we are impacted by this destruction collectively. I hope for this work to be a call to action, moving through our grief in the face of our present realities towards collective action.’
For the artist, it is important to highlight that humble stones was created as part of a practice of resistance against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The work recognises, amongst others, the struggle of the people of Palestine who are under occupation, the conditions faced by the people of Congo who are forced to work under unsafe conditions for the global tech industry, and the resistance of the people of Sudan against a militant occupation, resourced by the west. The use of the word “war” within the two poems sought to highlight the media misrepresentation of our current reality, drawing our attention towards the complicity of western governments, including the U.K., within ongoing crises and long-lasting social instability across the world.
To celebrate humble stones, we’ve made a digital publication featuring a body of poems, drawings and photographs made during Nadheem’s wider research process. The publication features a text from artist and writer Samandal Sidig, developed from an in-person conversation with Nadheem in Winter 2025.
Artist Biography
Nadheem Singh is an Indian poet, artist, and facilitator based in Cardiff. His writing explores themes of reconnection to nature, the experience of migration, and the emotional landscape of collective liberation.
Arist Selection
Nadheem Singh was selected from a public call-out for artists aged 18-30, living within an hour of Peak’s sites. Thanks to writer and artist Kandace Siobhan Walker for shaping the open-call theme and Eve Powell, a young person from Peak’s network, for being part of the selection panel.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Cerian Hedd for their work as Young People’s Curator; designer Mark El-khatib for the publication design and production support; artist Leo Bruno Todd for production support; Oner Signs for production and Alan Bowring, Geopark Development Officer BBNPA, for his ongoing collaboration.
This programme of commissions is funded by ACW Create and Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Comisiynau Platfform 2
Medi 2025 - Chwefror 2026
Roedd comisiwn Nadheem Singh, humble stones, i'w weld ar Blatfform 2, Gorsaf y Fenni rhwng mis Medi 2025 a Chwefror 2026. Roedd y gwaith yn cynnwys dwy gerdd a ddatblygwyd yn sgil cyfnod o ymchwil a gynhaliwydyn haf 2025, yn cerdded ac yn archwilio rhwydwaith afonydd, daeareg a ffiniau naturiol ardal y Fenni.
Mae gwaith Nadheem yn cofleidio cymhlethdod y ffordd mae pobl yn llywio ffindiroedd, gan anrhydeddu ffiniau naturiol y Ddaear, sy’n cael eu mynegi drwy afonydd, arfordiroedd, coedwigoedd, mynyddoedd, ceunentydd, clogwyni, esgyrn, nythod a chroen. Mae ei waith yn cydnabod profiad byw’r rhai sy'n wynebu heriau mewnfudo, dadleoli gorfodol ac anghyfiawnder biwrocrataidd dan law ffiniau gwleidyddol.
Roedd humble stones yn cynnwys elfennau o ddarlunio â llaw o lyfr braslunio Nadheem - nodiadau map, traciau trên, afonydd ac elfennau eraill. Mae’r cyfansoddiadau’n awgrymu’r ffyrdd y mae ffiniau naturiol, daearegol, gwleidyddol a chenedlaethol yn cydgyfeirio a dargyfeirio, gan gwestiynu pwy sy’n cael eu gadael mas, a beth sy’n cael ei echdynnu, ar draws y trothwyon hyn. Roedd y gwaith yn edrych tuag at Mynydd y Blorens sy’n codiuwchlaw’r Fenni, sef y nodwedd sy’n marcio ymyl maes glo De Cymru. Wrth drafod y gwaith, dywed yr artist: ‘I want to acknowledge the intersection between political borders and the exploitation of natural resources, despite systems of the west painting this destruction to exist in a vacuum. When we face our reality with eyes wide open, we notice how we are impacted by this destruction collectively. I hope for this work to be a call to action, moving through our grief in the face of our present realities towards collective action.’
Mae’n bwysig i’r artist bwysleisio fod humble stones wedi ei greu fel rhan o ymarfer o wrthsafiad yn erbyn yr hil-laddiad parhaus yn Gaza. Mae’r gwaith yn cydnabod, ymysg pethau eraill, brwydr pobl Palesteina sydd o dan warchae, yr amodau y mae pobl Congo yn eu hwynebu wrth gael eu gorfodi i weithio o dan amodau peryg ar gyfer y diwydiant technoleg byd-eang, a gwrthsafiad pobl Sudan yn erbyn byddin oresgynnol sy’n derbynadnoddau gan y gorllewin. Roedd y defnydd o’r gair “rhyfel/war” yn y ddwy gerdd yn ymgais i bwysleisio camgynrychiolaeth y cyfryngau o’n realiti presennol, gan dynnu ein sylw at gyfranogaeth llywodraethau’r gorllewin, gangynnwys y D.U., at argyfyngau ac ansefydlogrwydd cymdeithasol hirhoedlog ar draws y byd.
Er mwyn dathlu humble stones, rydym wedi creu cyhoeddiad digidol sy’n cynnwys casgliad o gerddi, darluniau a ffotograffau a luniwyd yn ystod proses ymchwil ehangach Nadheem. Mae’r cyhoeddiad yn cynnwys darn o sgwennu gan yr artist a’r sgwennwr Samandal Sidig, a ddatblygwyd drwy gyfrwng sgwrs wyneb-yn-wyneb gyda Nadheem yn ystod Gaeaf 2025.
Gallwch lawrlwytho’r cyhoeddiad fan hyn
Bywgraffiad yr artist
Bardd, artist a hwylusydd o India sy'n byw yng Nghaerdydd yw Nadheem Singh. Mae’n cynnal digwyddiadau barddoniaeth fel rhan o RaglenAubergine Arts, sy'n hyrwyddo mynegiant creadigol pobl gwiar a niwroamrywiol. Mae ei farddoniaeth yn archwilio themâu ailgysylltu â natur, y profiad o fudo, a thirwedd emosiynol rhyddhad torfol.
Dewis Artist
Dewiswyd Nadheem yn dilyn galwad cyhoeddus am artistiaid rhwng 18 a 30 oed, sy'n byw o fewn awr i safleoedd Peak. Diolch i'r awdur a'r artist Kandace Siobhan Walker am siapio thema’r alwad agored, i Eve Powell, person ifanc o rwydwaith Peak, am fod yn rhan o'r panel dethol.
Cydnabyddiaethau
Diolch i Cerian Hedd am eu gwaith fel Curadur Pobl Ifanc; i’r dylunydd Mark-El-Khatib am ddylunio’r cyhoeddiad ac am gefnogaeth cynhyrchu; i’r artist Leo Bruno Todd am gymorth cynhyrchu, i Oner Signs am gynhyrchu ac iAlan Bowring, Swyddog Datblygu Geoparc Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog, am ei gydweithrediad bob amser.
Ariennir gwaith comisiwn Platfform 2 gan gronfa Creu Cyngor y Celfyddydau a Sefydliad Paul Hamlyn.
