Last month, a new public art commission was unveiled at Theatr Clwyd.
At eich coed (Wood for the trees), by celebrated Welsh artist Manon Awst, is a large-scale, playful artwork made up of a series of screenprinted glass panels – a “mirrored forest” at the heart of the theatre’s new building.
We sat down with Manon to find out more about the artwork and the ideas behind it.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m an artist from Ynys Môn. After several years living and working in Berlin, I’m now based in Caernarfon with my family and have a shared studio space in town – Stiwdio Cadnant.
I’ve always been interested in the relationship between artworks and their sites, and in the impact of materials over time, no doubt shaped by my studies in Architecture and the rural landscape I grew up in.
Can you tell us a bit about the work you’ve created for Theatr Clwyd?
It’s a mirrored forest on the second floor of the building – a forest inspired by the plane tree in the outdoor sensory garden. I love the pattern of the bark and started experimenting with it early in the design phase, weaving in the building’s colour palette.
It was important for me that the pieces would playfully engage audiences, and from previous experience with mirror works, I know people love seeing themselves within the image – in this case, within the forest! And the mirror surfaces also widen up the public spaces, bringing the external landscape into play as well.
What was the starting point or inspiration for this commission?
I was lucky to be involved in the redevelopment project from its early stages. It was brilliant to hear the architects and designers discussing colour and material palettes and knowing how important the connection was between the building and wider landscape from the outset.
The surrounding plane trees quickly became a point of focus for me, since they seemed to offer a way into merging the contemporary warm aesthetics of the new Theatr with the Clwydian natural environment. So, it was a process of playing with this camouflage-like pattern in various colour combinations. I immediately imagined visitors – especially children – trying to find themselves amongst the tree trunks and knew I was on the right track.
Can you tell us about the process of how the artwork was made?
I’ve often used mirrors as part of artworks (for example, my series Hold On) and love their impact on audiences and spaces, when used playfully and sensitively. But this is the first large-scale mirror work intended for a public space long-term.
I conceived it to be part of the building, that it would be integrated and feel part of the lived spaces, but also adding to its performativity on a day-to-day basis, with the artwork shifting depending on activity, audience and even weather and lighting conditions.
I decided to work with Proto Glass Studios on the production and enjoyed workshop visits and getting samples made to see the different layering, printing techniques and textures possible. In the end, we went for simple single-glazed glass sheets with a screen-printed image and mirror back. It worked aesthetically, was lighter to transport and install, and I was keen to keep material production to a minimum. It’s always nerve-wracking to see the shift from sample to full-scale, but I’m very happy with how the artworks sit in the space.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
The most exciting project coming up is Cymru yn Fenis / Wales in Venice at the Venice Biennale in 2026, which I’m leading together with artist Dylan Huw in collaboration with Oriel Davies and Oriel Myrddin. It’s a dream come true to be working on this project, and it allows me to bring together my creative research on peatland ecologies, site-specific sculpture and forms of interdisciplinary collaboration within an international art setting.
At eich coed was commissioned by studio three sixty as part of Theatr Clwyd’s public art programme, with funding from Arts Council Wales. Art will be at the heart of Theatr Clwyd’s new building, with a series of commissions – across a variety of disciplines – set to be installed at the theatre over the coming months.
Photographs by Dewi Tannatt Lloyd.