Kilvey Hill
How to be with strangers
Looking for ways to reconnect in these times of separation, conflict and loss, a team of students were brought together by artist Deborah Aguirre Jones with Kilvey Hill’s Tuesday Group, Richard (aka Blod) and his horses to develop a series of practical, social and creative events:
Summoning the Springtime
Deborah commissioned designer Rhi Matthews to build costumes for the horses when Blod said this was a time to summon up a future with joy and optimism.
Drawing on folk traditions for solstice and Imbolc he organised processions with the horses at night-time, inviting the sun’s return and chasing away winter’s darkness, leading to small festivals of live music on the hillside.
Meeting the Horses
Students and members of The Tuesday Group each invited guests to Kilvey Hill, where they were introduced by Blod to his horses through gentle tasks of brushing, grooming and leading around the field.
Being with each other
After each encounter with the horses, these friends and strangers drank tea, ate together and talked about their joys and fears in being with the animals, being alone or with others and being with difficulty.
Being my animal
The team imagined themselves as creatures.How would it feel, to have a lion’s strength and certainty?
Capturing the moments
Students and members of the Tuesday Group were trained in sound recording and editing, then created sound pieces to remember and share some of the project’s significant moments.
Deborah commissioned photographer Michal Iwanowski to capture moments, characters and encounters on the hillside.
THE TEAM
THe students
As part of their Msc in Sustainable Engineering Management for International Development at Swansea University, Ekene Obiorah and Vyshnav Pazhuparambil Ramesh had already worked with communities of Kilvey Hill. Their understanding of the hill’s ecology and communities grew out of a period of careful listening; joining in with ongoing activities, supporting local peoples’ needs and developing projects as part of their studies/research. Studying a research masters in Spanish literature at Aberystwyth University, Margo Llwyd Martin came to this project with a curiosity about non-verbal communications and the visceral responsiveness that exists between people and horses.
Blod
Blod grew up in St Thomas with horses; later in life he bought some land which is now home to 7 horses and 13 goats. He maintains public rights of way and encouraging people to enjoy the Hill.
The Tuesday Group
Jeyhun, Ganimet, Moody, Ali and others are The Tuesday Group, who spend time with Blod and his horses, sharing stories, food and music on the hill.
The horses
Macsen, Maidoc, D.D. and Chester, four horses under Blod’s care, have been central to the project.
Deborah Aguirre Jones
Deborah Aguirre Jones is a socially engaged artist who collaborates with other people exploring how and where we feel we belong. Playing with performance, sculpture, sociability and other activities, they set up events and conversations to find ideas and images which are often invisible in ourselves and our relationships.
Photography by Michal Iwanowski
