In July 2020, I was finally able to return to the island of Anglesey and the Amlwch railway line to complete “Rhoddion”, a project that has lain dormant during the long months of the coronavirus lockdown. It was the culmination of my reflection on the idea of generosity, as well as forming a part of my final body of work for my Masters in Fine Art at Oxford Brookes University.
As always, it was wonderful to be back on the island and to find the line once again. Though apparently little changed from the first time I had explored it in Autumn 2019, these visits have always emphasised to me the slow, relentless and largely invisible process of decay that is affecting much of the 17 miles of the route. It’s a process that never ceases, despite the valiant efforts of those seeking to restore it.
My job on this visit was to replace seven track ballast stones that I have gilded with copper leaf and kept with me at home all through the coronavirus lockdown. My plan was to replace them in locations along the whole length of the line, and to leave them to their fate - unmarked, unnamed and unexplained. Everything else apart from the simple act of returning the stones to the line - a simple, silent act of generosity, I hope - seemed unnecessary.
From this process, which took me approximately a day and a half to achieve, I generated a series of seven photographs as a documentary record, designed with my MFA final show in mind. They, along with some of my recorded thoughts, can be seen below:
Recording 1: Prelude (4mins 20s):
In which I introduce my project from a lonely overbridge not far from Gaerwen, and make something of false start.
Recording 2: Stone One (2mins 40s)
In which I find my way onto the railway line and place the first of my seven Rhoddion stones in the company of some indifferent sheep
“Rhoddion” - Stone no.1 - Mark Clay (2020)
Recording 3: The Rain and The Road (3mins 10s)
Once again, my attempt to place a stone comes to nothing, leaving me to contemplate the rain and the noise of roads.
Recording 4: Stone Two (2mins 50s)
The second “Rhoddion” Stone is put in place, despite water and warnings.
“Rhoddion” - Stone no.2 - Mark Clay (2020)
Recording 5: Stone Three (2mins 38s)
A silent and thought-provoking location for Stone Three, where I ponder ideas of access and trespass.
“Rhoddion” - Stone no.3 - Mark Clay (2020)
Recording 6: Stone Four (3mins 5s)
Resuming my series of little pilgrimages on the morning of day two, finding the path appears as difficult as finding the railway.
“Rhoddion” - Stone no.4 - Mark Clay (2020)
Recording 7: Stone Five (2mins 5s)
Gathering a few fragments of broken railway sleeper leads to a reflection on relics and their significance.
“Rhoddion” - Stone no.5 - Mark Clay (2020)
Recording 8: Stone Six (2mins)
Reflecting on how the railway, the roads and the paths of Anglesey dance around each other.
Recording 9: Stone Seven (2mins 45 s)
The end of the line, in every sense. At the end, there is nothing but the wind.