5 July – 21 September 2025

This touring exhibition builds on ideas from Toni De Jesus’s solo show at MUDAS – Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Madeira (Portugal, 2023). It focuses on the interplay between the artist, the work, the material and place.

Toni has a history of migration, which creates a feeling of both belonging and not belonging. Parallel to this, his work exists in the space between tradition and breaking with tradition, functionality and non-functionality, craftsmanship and idea-based art. This space in-between is where Toni’s identity is formed. Driven by a desire for connection, Toni explores themes of place, memory, and loss; core elements of his migrant experience.

Through examining how local materials, such as sand, rocks, sediments and clays have been used with ceramics throughout Maderia’s 600-year history, Toni was able to find a tangible link between what defines where he comes from and what he is.

He also delves into non-physical heritage, the sharing of stories, gossip and songs passed down from family and locals. This creates a parallel between something that is solid, like ceramics fired in a wood kiln and the perishable, like the whisper of how my grandmother met my grandad. The developed work explores these notions in a different context. Living in Wales for the past ten years has transformed Toni into the person he is today.

Many people can relate to the feeling of being in-between. Through this exhibition, Toni invites viewers to reflect on their own identities and how these experiences shape their understanding of Cacúlo.

A Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre and Ruthin Craft Centre Partnership exhibition funded by Arts Council of Wales Create Funding.

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5 Gorffennaf – 21 Medi 2025

Mae’r arddangosfa deithiol hon yn adeiladu ar syniadau o sioe unigol Toni De Jesus yn MUDAS – Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Madeira (Portiwgal, 2023). Mae’n canolbwyntio ar y cydadwaith rhwng yr artist, y gwaith, y deunydd a’r lle.

Mae gan Toni hanes o fudo, sy’n creu teimlad o berthyn a pheidio â pherthyn. Ochr yn ochr â hyn, mae ei waith yn bodoli yn y gofod rhwng traddodiad a thorri â thraddodiad, ymarferoldeb ac an-swyddogaetholdeb, crefftwaith a chelf sy’n seiliedig ar syniadau. Y gofod hwn rhyngddynt yw lle mae hunaniaeth Toni yn cael ei ffurfio. Wedi’i yrru gan awydd am gysylltiad, mae Toni yn archwilio themâu lle, cof a cholled; elfennau craidd ei brofiad mudol.

Trwy archwilio sut mae deunyddiau lleol, fel tywod, creigiau, gwaddodion a chlai wedi’u defnyddio gyda serameg drwy gydol hanes 600 mlynedd Maderia, llwyddodd Toni i ddod o hyd i gysylltiad pendant rhwng yr hyn sy’n diffinio o ble mae’n dod a’r hyn ydyw.

Mae hefyd yn ymchwilio i dreftadaeth anffisegol, rhannu straeon, clecs a chaneuon a drosglwyddwyd gan deulu a phobl leol. Mae hyn yn creu paralel rhwng rhywbeth sy’n gadarn, fel cerameg wedi’i thanio mewn odyn bren a’r darfodus, fel sibrwd sut y cyfarfu fy mam-gu â fy nhaid. Mae’r gwaith datblygedig yn archwilio’r syniadau hyn mewn cyd-destun gwahanol. Mae byw yng Nghymru am y deg mlynedd diwethaf wedi trawsnewid Toni i’r person ydyw heddiw.

Gall llawer o bobl uniaethu â’r teimlad o fod yn y canol. Trwy’r arddangosfa hon, mae Toni yn gwahodd gwylwyr i fyfyrio ar eu hunaniaethau eu hunain a sut mae’r profiadau hyn yn llunio eu dealltwriaeth o Cacúlo.

Arddangosfa Bartneriaeth Canolfan Gelfyddydau Llantarnam Grange a Chanolfan Grefftau Rhuthun a ariannwyd gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru Create Funding.

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