“We can thank the artist William Brown for this exhibition, or at least for the insistence that we - Roger Moss and Keith Bayliss - accept equal lumps of wax, through the post and fashion them into a Venus of our own making. In the mind of William there would then be, at least, three contemporary Venus’ in Wales.

Although the story changed with each telling, William insisted that a Welsh Venus, to rival the Venus of Willendorf, has been unearthed in the Hills above Blaengwynfi. This Venus then started to populate his prints drawings and paintings, adding another character to his repertoire of mythical creatures.

William died ten years ago. The three Venus’ remained as wax effigies, uncast and waiting to be realised. We continue to toy with the idea of Venus and to endeavour to make an exhibition in which we three artists could at least explore the idea of “Venus” and come together again to share our discoveries. This exhibition is the outcome”

Roger Moss & Keith Bayliss 2018 

So here she is. The Venus of Blaengwynfi loosely plundered by the Celtic tribes - even the Romans had their goddesses. Mother, Sister, “female”, the eternal - all these things if you know where to look.

From Shelagh ‘n Gigh to Rhiannon to Venus herself, the fetish exists.

At once ugly and beautiful she remains a timeless emblem.

Her greatest gift is the plough and furrow - Mary herself, all ears. A diet of worms or cockles but like the little effigy in Austria she crops up.

Why shouldn’t Wales have one as well!

Hallowed, hollowed, holy, fecund, this is the original “it” girl.”

William Brown. May 2008

Click HERE for more images of their work and the opening of this fantastic show