Is it a dragon? A sea serpent? Or even the Loch Ness Monster?
Whatever it is, this monster has got Caerphilly town talking after it made an appearance in the moat surrounding Caerphilly Castle.
The monster is believed to have escaped from a new art gallery in the town, where it was part of an exhibition entitled Barry’s Zoo. The 20ft creature is the work of Rhondda sculptor Barry Lewis.
Barry is a prolific artist whose sculptures seem to be growing in size and imagination. He created the monster with the emphasis on creating a visually engaging artwork.
With recycling being central to the artist’s work, the monster in the moat and the 50 other sculptures on display in Y Galeri are all made from reused everyday items.
The monster was made from industrial toilet roll dispensers, a vast array of kitchen utensils and spoons.
Barry’s passion and understanding of animals and the construction of sculptures was a legacy from his grandfather. As a child growing up in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley he very much enjoyed spending time in his company.
Barry’s excellent practical skills led him to work on shop displays including Santa’s Grotto and other window displays at Harrod’s He went on to fulfil his ambition to become a carpenter, specialising in wood carving and used his skills in theatre design making opera and ballet backdrops.
It was during this time that he started creating ‘junk art’ and realised that there was a market for his work. He gave up carpentry to make a living as a professional sculptor and hasn’t looked back.
His work has been exhibited around the UK, Europe and as far afield as Australia.
His sculptures are in the collections of various celebrities including Rhys Ifans, Rolf Harris and psychic Uri Geller, renowned for his spoon bending powers.
Y Galeri has been working in partnership with CADW and Caerphilly Town Management to bring the idea to fruition.
The exhibition in the gallery has already generated a huge amount of interest. The fact that the monster has hot footed it down to the moat is sure to generate further interest, especially with the huge influx of visitors expected during the Big Cheese Event.
The monster will be in the moat until mid August.
Barry’s Zoo exhibition can be seen at Y Galeri, St Fagans Street, Caerphilly until July 26.
I wish we had ou own monster in the moat. Which councillor would you sugggest ?