HIRAETH: AN EXPLORATION OF WELSH IDENTITY WITH THOMAS GOWER

MUSICART/CULTURE

Feb 20

Written By

Photography

HIRAETH: AN EXPLORATION OF WELSH IDENTITY WITH THOMAS GOWER

Welsh photographer Thomas Gower draws influence from the people and places that surround him. He uses his lens and artwork to explore modern Welsh identity, having recently published his first zine ‘Hiraeth’ denoting a feeling of nostalgia or homesickness we talked to the budding artist to learn more about his process, where he draws inspiration from, and what his plans are for the coming year.

Words:
Luc Hinson

Artwork:
Tom Shotton

BB: Thomas, could you explain to our readers what the term ‘Hiraeth’ means to you?

TG: For me, this word means missing where you are from and all that comes with that. This word resonated with me as I felt I missed a lot about Wales and felt more attached to Wales living away from home and think that this word summed up that feeling.

BB: What was the impetuous for you for starting the project?

TG: For me, it was that change of moving away from home. I missed the communities that I would seek to take photographs of, whether that be going to Porthcawl and seeing the tight-knit community at the amusement park or the community in Canton in Cardiff at the Markets I went to with my Dad. I guess it comes from a sense of belonging and understanding my Welsh identity and where I am from that really wanted me to make this.

BB: Tell us a bit about the process behind the book, how long did it take you?

TG: The process of making the photographs lasted two years or so, I just was not sure at that time what I wanted to do with the photographs. Coming away from home made me realise what I would like to do with the photographs. The process of sequencing and editing took five to four weeks.

BB: What message are you trying to portray through the book?

TG: It is to portray a sense of home and belonging, realizing the communities you’re surrounded around by, understanding your identity, and what surrounds you. I hope people can realize this about themselves and reflect and be proud of where they call home.

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I GUESS IT COMES FROM A SENSE OF BELONGING AND UNDERSTANDING MY WELSH IDENTITY AND WHERE I AM FROM THAT REALLY WANTED ME TO MAKE THIS.

PHOTOGRAPHY: THOMAS GOWER

BB: What was the biggest challenge you encountered?

TG: I guess overcoming the barrier of asking people to take their photograph, that is always felt daunting at first and still can be a barrier but has become easier over time.

BB: What’s your biggest source of inspiration when making photos?

TG: For me, it is the work by Cian Oba Smith Andover and Six Acres. The way he communicated a sense of place and communicated the identity in landscape and portrait was and still is a big inspiration.

BB: What does home mean to you?

TG: Home is where I belong and where I feel comfortable. I think the idea of home and a place where you belong is something that can shift throughout your life. My attachment to home is South Wales, where I feel comfortable and where I know belong.

BB: What are your hopes for the rest of 2020?

TG: I would like ideally to progress this work further, possibly targeting a certain area in Cardiff which I identify with, or expanding the work of Hiraeth further into North Wales to understand collective identity and, understand what may differ to South Wales.

Another hope is to understanding family dynamics being brought up in a single-parent home, understanding the difficulties personally, and with other families.

Instagram: @TomJCGower