This project takes a symbolic and metaphorical approach to reinterpreting the tale of Twrch Trwyth, translating the narrative allegorically to connect it with contemporary themes and concerns. 

Twrch Trwyth forms part of the wider story of Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion, a body of traditional Welsh folklore first compiled into written manuscripts during the 14th century. Within the story, Olwen’s father, Ysbaddaden, sets Culhwch a series of seemingly impossible tasks before granting permission for him to marry his daughter. One of these tasks is to hunt down the Twrch Trwyth, a ferocious, enchanted boar. 

Approached allegorically, the project reconsiders the meaning of this narrative in relation to the present day. The Twrch Trwyth can be read as a symbol of the natural world — a landscape continually pursued, extracted from, and reshaped by human intervention. At the same time, it may represent systems placed under pressure by external forces seeking to control or dominate them. Yet within the story, the Twrch resists, protecting both itself and its young, suggesting themes of resilience, conservation, and the enduring capacity of nature to withstand exploitation. 

Through metaphorical and symbolic imagery, the project marks a new direction within my documentary practice. Rather than recording events directly, it explores how folklore, landscape, and cultural memory can be mobilised to communicate ideas about humanity’s relationship with nature, systems of control, and the narratives that continue to shape Wales today. The use of black-and-white analogue medium format reinforces this approach, emphasising texture, atmosphere, and a sense of temporal ambiguity, while grounding the work in both material process and historical reference.