旅影留踪：在加的夫的日子里

'Girl'by Robert Thomas

2005年7月1日上午11时，大会开始报到注册。我30日就已经抵达并报到注册。
1日早，忙里偷闲，来到加的夫市府大厦前的园林里。
园林绿茵葱葱，幽静迷人，见到此青铜雕像，忍禁不住。
摄于2005年7月1日上午9:30

当初摄影时，并未发现此雕像的作用与重要性。回来慢慢研究以后发现，此雕像出自英国威尔士雕刻艺术家Robert Thomas之手，在当地具有非常大的影响，并具有特殊的代表性。

雕像的名称为"Girl"，又称"Dreaming Girl"，是Robert Thomas的代表作之一，在许多特殊的地方都能见到此作品。下面的作品是威尔士Glamorgan大学收藏的艺术品，可以从不同角度审视“梦中女孩”。

'Dreaming Girl'by Robert Thomas
Bronze
71cm (h)x 30cm (w)x 43cm (d)
1968-69
Front of Ty Crawshay building (A Block)lawn
University of Glamorgan Loan Collection
Pontypridd,Wales UK

Robert Thomas是威尔士著名的雕刻艺术家，生于1926年，卒于1999年。下面详细介绍英国威尔士这位著名的艺术家。

Robert Thomas,sculptor

1926-1999

Born Cwmparc,Rhondda 1August 1926
Lived and worked in Barry,1972-9
Died 11May 1999

Aunique collection of bronze sculpture for Wales

Robert Thomas was a sculptor who lived and worked in Barry,and died in 1999.People raise awareness of the work of Robert Thomas and his contribution to Welsh cultural life.

"Bob Thomas,apprentice electrician in the Dare Colliery,wanted to become a sculptor.He has succeeded.Trained in Cardiff Art School and the Royal College of Art,Bob went on and on.He's made a pantheon of portraits,bronze heads of eminent achievers."
Ron Berry

"The history of modern Wales can be found in the bronzes of the sculptor Robert Thomas."
Peter Stead

“While founded on sound classical values,his work makes an instant appeal to the non-specialist observer.His liking for people,his warm respect for caring motherhood,his affection for children and his admiration of the male and female form are immediately perceived.”
James Bostock

Throughout his life,Robert was acutely aware of the responsibility of creating a legacy in bronze that would be a gift to future generations and that could possibly survive for thousands of years.Robert Thomas's family and friends have therefore decided to seek funding to create a unique collection of his work to be placed on show to the public in Wales.

Although the individual sculptures are instantly recognisable,their cumulative impact is all the greater because the stylistic and thematic relationships reinforce each work.Robert's sculpture,whether of a single figure lost in thought or of a group which interacts with each other,reminds us of moments or events in our lives.His genius was to capture their beauty in ways that can relate to our own experiences.

The initial aim of the Trust is to cast into bronze one major Robert Thomas sculpture to be donated or loaned for exhibition at a suitable venue in Wales.Beyond this we would like to be able to cast into bronze for donation an unrivalled collection of major sculptures togather with relief sculptures,portraits,maquettes and statuettes.Ideally these would be sited at one location in Wales where they could be viewed by the public from Wales and the world.

Sculptures mark city centenary 

Sophie Corless,South Wales Echo

A UNIQUEset of bronze sculptures have been unveiled in Cardiff to mark the city's centenary.

The four statues were created by Welsh artist Robert Thomas,who died in 1999shortly after completing the commission.

Three of the sculptures -Mother and Son,The Family and Miner -will stand proudly in Queen Street,Cardiff and a further statue called Girl will be on display in Gorsedd Gardens,in the Civic Centre.

Crowds gathered in Cardiff yesterday to catch their first glimpse of the statues,unveiled by a number of city dignitaries and Robert Thomas'widow,Mary.

Lord Mayor Councillor Jacqui Gasson,who revealed the Mother and Son sculpture,said:"Not only are they beautiful to look at but they are a symbol of unity and embody the strong links between Cardiff and the rest of South Wales."

Mary Thomas,74,was married to Robert for 53years and was honoured to be part of the ceremony.

"Iwas very proud to see Robert's sculptures finally unveiled in Cardiff,"said Mary,who lives in Barry.

"It will familiarise people with his work and help keep his memory alive."

Born in Cwmparc in the Rhondda Valley,Robert studied at Cardiff Art School and later moved to London to continue his training at the Royal College of Art.

Following his return to Wales in 1971,he produced pieces at his Barry studio until his death on May 11,1999.

Close friends Anne and Alun Thomas were proud to finally see his statues unveiled.

"We have been friends of Robert and Mary for many years,"said Anne,74.      

"It is lovely his sculptures are at last getting pride of place in Cardiff.He deserves a place in the capital city and I'm sure his work will bring a sense of style,grace and serenity to Cardiff."

2005年7月18日