Blaenau Ffestiniog Circle

This work is a classic example of a Richard Long stone circle and embodies many of the central themes in his work, expressing a powerful artistic engagement with landscape. It was designed and built specifically for the National Museum Wales following a lengthy period of collaboration in early 2011, and uses Welsh slate collected directly by the artist at the Llechwedd Slate Mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog. With the support of the Art Fund, it is now set to remain at NMW, where it will perform many roles and tell many stories: the history of British sculpture, the centrality of landscape as subject in the visual arts, the history of conceptual strategies in art, and the way in which Wales continues to provide inspiration for internationally important artists working today.