Tu ol I’r Blwch- Behind The Box
by Cefyn Burgess
March 15th to November 2nd 2025
‘THE EXHIBITION ‘TU OL I’R BLWCH’ IS BASED ON MY FIRST VISIT AND RESEARCH TO THE NORTH EAST OF INDIA, NAMELY THE KHASI, JAINITA HILLS AND MIZORAM WITH THE AIM TO GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MISSION COLLECTION BOXES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WALES.
THE KHASI AND JAINITA HILLS ARE FAMILIAR NAMES INGRAINED IN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF COLLECTING FOR THE CHILDREN OF INDIA AND THE HOSPITAL IN SHILLONG WHEN ATTENDING SUNDAY SCHOOL AT THE CHAPEL.
THIS RELATIONSHIP AND SHARED HISTORY ESTABLISHED OVER 150 YEARS BETWEEN WALES AND THE KHASI, JAINITA HILLS OF MEGAHALAYA OFFERED AN UNIQUE INSIGHT AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT PART OF INDIA WITH ITS OWN VARIED TRADITIONS, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
THIS EXHIBITION AND COLLECTION OF WORK IS MY FIRST STEP TAKEN IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE EARLY WELSH MISSIONARIES IN UNDERSTANDING THE STORY AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WALES AND THE KHASI AND JANTIA PEOPLES. ‘
