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    Caption
    The Môr the Merrier, Abi Haywood, 2023, sound, 13 minutes 39 seconds

    ©the artist

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    Ceramic hand-sculpted bust of a woman with short grey hair with pink streaks wearing a bright purple wild swimming towelling dry robe. She has a single brow raised and an open mouth as if speaking.
    Caption
    Dryrobe Warrior (Rhian), Abi Haywood, 2023, ceramic, steel, fabric, 170 x 60 x 70 cm

    ©the artist

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    green goblin with a fryer tuck haircut and a single hoop earring in a jacuzzi with a red brick exterior, the tub is filled with bubbling milk.
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    The Bwbach, Abi Haywood, 2024, ceramic, grout, milk, aquarium pump 45 x 45 x 35 cm

    ©the artist

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    Ceramic hand-sculpted bust of a woman with short blonde-grey hair wearing glasses and a khaki wild swimming towelling dry robe. She has a neutral expression.
    Caption
    Dryrobe Warrior (Gwen), Abi Haywood, 2023, ceramic, steel, fabric, 157 x 50 x 60 cm

    ©the artist

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    A dark wooden box filled with miniature busts of rugby players against a dark green felt.
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    Man of the Match, Abi Haywood, 2023, wood, ceramic, felt, brass, 30 x 20 x 15 cm

    ©the artist

Abi Haywood – BA/BFA

My practice consists mainly of ceramic sculpture and sound. 'The Môr the Merrier’ is an evolving radio play Inspired by Dylan Thomas's 1954 play ‘Undermilk Wood’, in which an omnipotent narrator invites the audience to listen to the dreams and inner thoughts of the townspeople in the village of 'Llaregub'.

My fictional village of 'Ffogob' is a sort of post-COVID, post-Airbnb Llaregub. I voice all the characters and make the foley myself. The two main characters, empty nesters Rhian & Gwen, sit having a glass of wine in the back garden overlooking the village, having a natter. There are vignettes of other characters, Stef the Speedo, The Undertaker and Ruth the Pub Landlady.  I wanted to capture the way Welsh women in my life tell stories and the drama in their particularity of expression. Amidst the casual banter and gossip, there's a sense of the times changing rapidly.