"Over millennia, person after person from generation after generation had made contact with these rocks, each bringing their own hopes, dreams, desires and histories to bear upon the stones, which likewise left their own impressions upon us. We mark the rock; the rock marks us."
– ‘Time on Rock’ by Anna Fleming, Welsh Author and Climber.
This mobile of soft, tactile boulders draws inspiration from Anna Fleming’s words, folklore and Welsh folk culture. Intertwining the physicality of rock, the mythical presence of giants, and the abstracted female form, the artwork invites us to reconnect with nature and rediscover our roles both within it and with each other.
Crafted from reclaimed textiles, naturally dyed and lovingly patch-worked, quilted, and fabricated, the soft, organic forms evoke the symbolism of Mother Earth—an enduring, nurturing force of birth and renewal. The textures and colours of the materials speak to the act of reinvention of both resources and our perceptions.
Suspended delicately, the mobile comes to life through movement, animated by the collective presence and exchanges of people below. Each gentle ripple of air stirs the boulders in a pendulum-like dance, symbolising the potential of small, united actions to create meaningful change. The piece challenges us to reflect on our shared humanity and consider whether we can move away from systems of greed, patriarchy, capitalism, and the prejudice of “otherness.” By peering into the hagstones—believed in folklore to be portals to other worlds—we are invited to shift our perspective. This artwork asks: can we nurture transformation, realign our movements towards harmony, and embrace a collective care that honours both humanity and the planet? Through this reflective balance, the artwork becomes a cradle of change—guided by a maternal force that leads us toward a shared future of rebirth, interconnectedness and renewal.
As expressed by Anna Fleming ‘Storying brings character and personality to these distinctive topographies, giving us more to say about the place, beyond simply naming. Creative geography feeds the imagination, and the social nature of these sharings enriches human relationships with natural places.’ Therefore, by humanising the land, can we spark a deeper connection and sense of stewardship toward the natural world?
