Step into the world of ‘Tin Droi’
Think you know National Trust Cymru? Be prepared to see our places in a whole new light through ‘Tin Droi’, creative commission in collaboration with the artist Bedwyr Williams.
This Instagram account features familiar and much-loved individuals from Williams’ highly popular Instagram account (@bedwyr_williams), including ‘Man who absolutely loves clothes’ and ‘AirBnB cleaner’. The account documents the characters as they visit National Trust Cymru places for the first time.
The account name "Tin Droi" comes from the Welsh translation of "dawdle," and will depict the characters as they explore the variety of National Trust Cymru properties around Wales.
Who is Bedwyr Williams
Bedwyr Williams was born in St Asaph, North Wales, and grew up in Colwyn Bay. He completed a BA in Fine Art at Central St Martins in 1997 and an MA at Ateliers, Arnhem. After a period in London, he returned to Wales to live and work in Caernarfon. He received the Derek Williams Trust Purchase Award in association with Artes Mundi in 2017 and represented Wales at the Venice Biennale in 2013.
Solo shows include Do the Little Things, Ancient Connections, Ferns, County Wexford and St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, UK (2022); THE SEE WALL, East Quay, Watchet, UK (2022); Milquetoast, Southwark Park Galleries, London, touring to Ty Pawb, Wrexham, Wales and KARST, Plymouth (2021); Hypercaust / Y Tyrrau Mawr (The Big Towers), Southard Reid, London, UK (2019); ECHT, Tramway, Glasgow International, Scotland (2014) and Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, Italy (2017).
His work has been included in many institutional group shows including at Goldsmiths CCA, London, UK (2022); Somerset House, London (2021 - 22); South London Gallery, London (2018); Hayward Gallery touring to Concrete, Dubai (2018); ICA Singapore (2017); and The British Art Show 8 .
Q&A with the artist Bedwyr Williams
- What made you select the title Tin Droi?
- I thought about the word dawdle and how funny it is that it has this negative connotation. ‘Don’t dawdle’ is a real out of date thing to say now and it kind of fits with the eras of a lot of the National Trust properties. When I thought about the Welsh translation which is ‘Tin Droi’ – which sort of means ‘arse – turning’ I thought, perfect!
- What do you enjoy about sharing drawings on Instagram? How is it different or perhaps even better than sharing your work say, in a gallery or museum?
- What’s different about Instagram is that it removes curators and the middle people. I can fire out my ideas into the ether whenever I want. I’ve had good experiences with galleries and curators of course but I’ve always been a bit clumsy navigating that world. I like how you can use Instagram in a parasitic way, that you can place your work in amongst the cookery, dance steps, thirst trap and holiday posts. I like that followers can join in in the comments (for the most parts) as well. It’s not intended for artists but somehow for things I’ve been doing since lockdown it’s perfect. I also like that snooty-puss artists and art bods now think it’s passé.
- Can you explain a little about how you create the drawings? Do they happen quickly and do you find yourself now preferring to work digitally as opposed to with a traditional pen and paper?
- I usually have a kernel of an idea pop into my head like a bingo ball and then I choose a character. I’ll often laugh out loud to myself which is a good sign usually. A lot of unfunny people don’t like it when you laugh at your own jokes but that’s often a clue to their wider inadequacy funny wise. I bought an ipad with a pencil during lockdown and it changed my life as an artist. I’m very impatient and ping pong between tidiness and chaos. Working digitally allows me to make a mess that never needs to be cleaned up.
- The current stories which you create on Instagram often read like mini-soap operas, with your followers feeling quite invested in the story arc of your characters. Do you foresee any dramatic moments taking place during this series of Tîn Droi drawings?
- I’m not sure about drama but I’m interested to see how my characters are affected by NT properties. Visiting old sites, apart from the obvious educational pleasure, usually bring on a lot of introspection in me. Not that I imagine being an earl or a butler but something about being in a preserved silent space is like being in a melancholy incubator. I think this will happen to the characters too, even some of the gauche ones.
- Out of all the characters you’ve featured in the past couple of years, who are you most looking forward to taking on a National Trust Cymru visit?
- I have a real soft spot for the woman who cleans Air B and B’s. She’s an observer who thinks about things in a nice way. I think Welsh people (not all obviously) often are quiet in situations and take stuff in. I remember my dad (a very nice and quiet man) said he’d watched some men in straw hats playing trad jazz at an agricultural show. The way the nattily dressed band leader was bobbing up and down to the music had really stuck in his head. I’ve also got a troubled fashionista that I would love to take to Erddig if I get a chance.