An interactive exhibit dedicated to the works of Welsh artist Kyffin Williams begins next week at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. The free 30-minute experience, named Profiad Kyffin, allows visitors to step inside some of Wales' most famous paintings, using projection mapping technology similar to immersive shows held worldwide for artists such as Van Gogh and Cézanne.
A Journey into Kyffin's World
The experience is narrated by Sir Bryn Terfel and offers a 30-minute journey into Kyffin's world of brooding mountains, hill-farms, and sheepdogs. It opens to the public on Wednesday, November 18, with each session welcoming 10 people. Tickets are free, though a booking fee applies.
The first release of tickets is available now at library.wales, with dates from January 2027 onwards to follow. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Artist and His Legacy
Sir Kyffin Williams was born in Llangefni, Anglesey, in 1918 and trained at the Slade School of Art before returning to Wales, where he spent his career painting its landscape and people, often outdoors and with a palette knife. He was knighted in 1999 and left his estate to the National Library of Wales in 2006 when he died.
Focal Studios served as the principal designers of the experience. Chief executive Dennis Outten said: "We're always looking for new ways to put people inside amazing stories. I am obsessed with exploring how creative technology can be used to turn reality into a wonderful and accessible storytelling experience. I've never been a fan of VR headsets, so with projection mapping we develop work that brings the real world to life. Kyffin's paintings are so textured that we had to invent two new technologies to do them justice."
Reactions and Funding
Outten added: "We're really proud of this experience, not least because we've been able to project his landscapes without losing any of his texture, which is no mean feat."
Chief executive of the National Library of Wales, Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, described it as a "groundbreaking" experience. He said: "Standing in the middle of Kyffin's mountains, with Bryn's unmistakable voice as my guide, I saw Kyffin's work anew, and felt a great sense of pride alongside the responsibility of being the institution Kyffin entrusted with his life's work. I can't thank our funders enough, particularly the Colwinston Trust and Welsh Government. It really does need to be seen to be believed."
