Can Y Gog, 2025

Can Y Gog is a quilted diptych that explores the connection between observational drawing, the Welsh landscape, and folklore. The work originated from a hike where a Cuckoo Pint (also known as Lords and Ladies) was encountered, sparking a series of studies inspired by the plant's striking leaf shape. Further research uncovered the plant’s symbolic link to the seasonal return of the cuckoo in the UK. In Welsh folklore, the cuckoo holds significance as a bird of prophecy, foretelling birth and death, and is now a red-listed species due to its declining population. By embroidering a traditional folk poem onto the quilts, the piece seeks to revive an age-old cultural reverence for the cuckoo and reflect on its ecological and mythological importance.Poem:

Cuckoo, cuckoo, what do you do?

In April I open my bill,

In May I sing all day,

In June I change my tune,

In July away I fly,

In August away I must.

Made from scrap fabric, 2025